COLIN NISH admits the last fortnight has been torture for him after he was restricted to a watching brief due to a two-matchsuspension.
The big striker was forced to sit out the Scottish Cup victory over Livingston and last Sunday’s derby defeat to Dundee United.
The on-loan Hartlepool United man confessed the experience left him feeling helpless but now, having served the ban picked up after his sending-off against St Mirren, he is looking to take out all his frustrations against Ross County today.
He said: “I was absolutely gutted to miss the last two games.
“I was watching the lads warming up before last week’s game against Dundee United and I was just raring to go butobviously I couldn’t. It’s really hard not being able to help the lads in any way.
“The Livingston game was all right as we were in control, went in front early on and looked like we were never going to lose it, to be honest.
“But last week, I really wanted to be out on the park helping the lads.
“It is torture and if you could get away with not going to the games, I would maybe think about it but you have to be there to support the boys.
“I am not used to sitting in the stand watching games so I am just delighted to be back.
“Steven Milne and John Baird have done well while I have been out so I thought it would be difficult to force my way back into the team.
“Unfortunately, Steven is injured now and I will have to see what team themanager picks against County but I am just desperate to get back playing.”
Nish received a big boost earlier this week when Dundee boss Barry Smith reached an agreement with his Hartlepool counterpart John Hughes to allow the striker to extend his loan deal until the summer.
The final details still have to be ironed out but they are expected to be a formality and Nish admitted he is delighted to remain at Dens.
He said: “Hopefully, it will get finalised soon as I really enjoy myself here.
“It hasn’t settled my future as such as it is only until the end of the season. I will probably be in the same position come the summer but I am happy here and probably the happiest I have been for a while.
“The players here are good and the people around the place are great. You come in and you look forward to training every day.
“It wasn’t like that when I was down at Hartlepool. I liked the area and the people but for a variety of reasons, it was a hard place to settle into.
“So I am happy here back home and I am delighted the manager is determined to keep me.”
Dundee travel north to the Highlands looking to close the gap on County to just three points.
However, Nish knows first-hand how difficult a game at Dingwall can be, having been part of the Hibs team dumped out of the Scottish Cup by the-then First Division Staggies in 2010.
“Dingwall is a really tough place to go to,” he said. “It’s like when you play againstInverness, you know it is going to be really hard.
“County are a good, tough team and they are very confident as well.
“However, we know if we win we can close the gap on them to just three points. Every three points is vital but it is still a huge game for us.”
Dundee’s squad is stretched to the limit, with Milne, Stephen O’Donnell, Mark Stewart, Brian Easton, Mark Kerr, Jamie McCluskey, Carl Finnigan and Davide Grassi all injured.
nrobertson@thecourier.co.uk