Dundee boss Paul Hartley has a huge selection headache for tomorrow’s crunch clash with Ross County at Dens with no less than five first-team regulars set to miss out because of injury and suspension.
The game against the Staggies is of the must-win variety for the Dark Blues if they hope to realise this season’s ambition of making it into the top six come the split.
However, Hartley does not have his troubles to seek with three players out injured while skipper Gary Harkins and keeper Scott Bain who earlier this week lost an appeal against the red card he received against United in the derby two Sundays ago are both suspended.
The manager said last night: “Paul McGinn is struggling after picking up a knock during the United game.
“I thought he might be OK but he tried to train today and it was no good.
“Nicky Low picked up an injury this morning while Kosta Gadzhalov is also out with his shoulder.
“Thomas Konrad is all right, though. He just suffered a dead leg against United and Julen Etxabeguren is OK and has trained well over the last 10 days.
“However, Gary Harkins is suspended along with Scott Bain.
“I thought his appeal was 50/50 but David Mitchell did well when he was thrown in at the deep end against United.
“He has been waiting a while for his chance and we trust him.
“He has played enough games, with 250 under his belt.
“He is at a good age and has been waiting for this opportunity hopefully he can go and take it.”
Dundee have three games left before the split with the County game being quickly followed by another at home on Tuesday to title-chasing Celtic before a tricky trip to Hamilton.
Hartley admitted that he believes his side have little room for error if they are to finish in the top six.
He said: “It is massive game on Saturday. We have to try to win it to have any aspirations of finishing in the top six.
“We think we have to win the game and so will they.
“We have three games left and I think we have to win two of them.
“That’s the target for us just because of the other teams around us and the points they have.”
Hartley has been linked in recent days with a potential move for St Mirren’s Stevie Mallan but the manager was staying tight-lipped, saying: “I am not commenting on any players.”
However, he would comment on one of his own players, defender Paul McGinn, who is out of contract at the end of the season.
Hartley added: “We spoke to his agent last week and have made him an offer. We are waiting for them to get back to us.
“I would like to keep Paul and I think he has done really well.
“He has been ever present and even when he has played in a back three, he has been excellent so we have offered him a new deal.
“I am not aware of any interest in him from other teams but the boys out of contract are within their rights to speak to clubs elsewhere.
“I have no problem with that whatsoever.
“We have offered Paul something and we are waiting for his agent to get back to us but as I said, we definitely want to keep him.”