By Ian Roache and Graeme Dey

GRETNA FRONTMAN Colin McMenamin is in Dundee’s sights as they bid to boost their strikeforce.

Dark Blues boss Alex Rae is searching for a proven forward and sees the 26-year-old, who is on loan with Livingston but is due to rejoin the Borders club later this month, as the man to fire the Dens men towards promotion.

Rae has been unable to settle on a front partnership this season, with summer signings Jani Sturm and Jan Zemlik only able to conjure up three goals between them so far, and will lose Derek Lyle to a three-game ban after Saturday’s Scottish Cup tie with Huntly.

McMenamin scored 23 goals for the Black and Whites en route to the First Division crown last season so has the pedigree Rae is looking for and is likely to turn his back on making his switch to Livi permanent in favour of joining a team challenging Hamilton Accies for the title.

Meanwhile, player-boss Rae may now have completed his second touchline ban of the campaign but he won’t be in the dugout at Huntly.

A playing suspension carried over from last season means he not only cannot feature in the cup-tie, he is barred from being in the technical area in his capacity as manager.

Saturday’s league clash with Dunfermline saw Rae complete a four-match SFL ban bringing to six the total of games he has had to sit out this term.

And although he got round being suspended from the touchline against the Pars by naming himself as a substitute, his subsequent outburst against match referee John McKendrick and the standard of officiating in general is almost certain to land him in further trouble with the SFA.

Dundee hope Paul McHale and Gary MacKenzie will recover from illness and injury in time to face Huntly but the hosts will be without stalwart Gary McGowan, who was ordered off for violent conduct against Forres Mechanics.

The Dens men will have to do without midfield star Kevin McDonald for the January 19 meeting with Clyde as he has picked up a one-match suspension.