Dundee have lost another striker to injury, with boss John Brown revealing that teenager Craig Wighton is set for a spell on the sidelines.
Last week, former Scotland front man Craig Beattie was ruled out for up to four months after having an op to repair cartilage damage.
With Steven Doris currently out on loan at former club Arbroath, Brown’s striking options are now severely reduced, which was why he was delighted to see Peter MacDonald return to training on Thursday, despite having lost half a stone after being struck down by a virus.
The Dark Blues’ top striker, who has netted 11 times so far this season, fell ill on the eve of last weekend’s game at Alloa, but kept the fact he was sick a secret from the manager and his team-mates.
Despite being unwell, the 33-year-old scored what proved to be the winner against the Wasps, with the win taking Dundee back to the top of the league. MacDonald was still feeling the effects of the illness at the start of this week and was allowed to miss training, but he has now returned to the fold and Brown is cautiously optimistic that “Peaso” will be available for Saturday’s game with Dumbarton.
Brown said: “Peaso has come back in, but he has lost half a stone after suffering from a virus. He looked OK in training, but it will have taken a fair bit out of him.
“Hopefully, he is up to speed come Saturday he will not want to miss out, that’s for sure. We are already without Craig Beattie and now Craig Wighton has had a scan on his knee and will be out for two weeks.
“He just felt something behind his kneecap after the last reserve game when he overstretched. We were worried he could have been out for a while, so it is a relief he will only miss a fortnight.
“However, Kyle Benedictus, who will come in for the suspended Iain Davidson, and Stephen O’Donnell have trained today.”
Dundee will begin tomorrow’s game sitting proudly at the top of the Championship table and Brown has demanded they stay there.
The Dark Blues’ previous spell at the summit earlier this month lasted just a week after they lost at home to Cowdenbeath.
Dens will be the venue again for the visit of Dumbarton with Brown insisting there can be no repeat of the dismal display his players produced against the Blue Brazil, especially as Ian Murray’s side can be a dangerous proposition on the road.
He said: “Their manager is no mug. I know him from his time at Rangers and he is a great pro.
“When we played them down there earlier in the season they just blocked their 18-yard area and made things really difficult for us.
“We maybe got a bit frustrated, but we just have to try to get the width to expose a team defending so deep. Through the middle it will obviously be tight.
“Our players got a big lift with the result last week, but I will be reminding them about the Cowdenbeath game.
“I have said it before but every team can beat another in this league and I don’t think you can predict with any accuracy the result of any game.
“But we are desperate to get a win for the fans after we let them down the last time here.”