Dundee’s Kyle Letheren plans on retaining the Dark Blues’ goalkeeper jersey after returning ahead of schedule at the weekend.
Letheren was a surprise inclusion in the team that drew 1-1 with Partick Thistle on Saturday and made his first appearance since injuring his knee in the warm-up before the 3-1 win over Motherwell way back in mid-October.
It has emerged that his replacement Scott Bain has been playing through the pain barrier in recent weeks with a shoulder injury, and Saturday’s game proved to be a step too far.
But while Bain is due to go for a scan today to get to the root of the problem, the Welshman is just delighted that fortune has worked in his favour this time around.
“I didn’t think I wasplaying up until Wednesday, so I’ve only been back in training for a handful of days,” he explained.
“Bainy has done well and competition for places is what we thrive on, but now it’s my time to prove myself again.
“It’s funny how football works one door closes another opens so it’s down to me.”
Letheren was happy with how he performed on his return. He added: “I think I’m lacking power in my right leg but I expected that.
“I love being back and it was really important for us to end that run of defeats.
“I didn’t think we deserved a point but we’ll take the point all day long.”
Skipper Kevin Thomson also returned from his hamstring injury but will be assessed today after being forced off in the second half, while Simon Ferry picked up an ankle knock and was also substituted.
To compound the misery, Kevin McBride injured his thigh in the warm-up and is struggling for this weekend’s visit of St Mirren.
All in all then, a point was a good result for Dundee boss Paul Hartley but he admits reinforcements may well be needed when the transfer window opens.
“We’re really down to the bare bones and we have to look at that with January coming up,” he said.
“I’ve had discussions about possibly bringing one in over the next couple of days, and hopefully we’ll get someone in at the start of January.”