Dundee’s Thomas Konrad is daring to dream of securing European football for the Dark Blues next season as a big thank-you to the club’s loyal fans.
The German centre-half admits a foray into continental competition would be a fitting reward for the supporters although he is fully aware that there is still a lot of work to be done before the dream becomes a reality.
As things stand, Dundee would either need to win the Scottish Cup to qualify or failing that, hope that likely champions Celtic completed a league and cup double meaning that a fourth-place finish in the Premiership would be enough to take the Dark Blues into Europe.
When asked if he thought it was possible to achieve that, Konrad replied: “Of course, why not?
“We are in fifth position on the same points as Ross County in fourth.
“If we keep the good run going, things are possible.
“It would be a dream if we could pull that off, especially for all the fans.
“When you look back the last few years, where Dundee was, everyone would be really happy about it.
“The fans would deserve it as every game, even when we aren’t playing well, they are always supporting us, home and away.”
Konrad, though, is fully aware that while he is entitled to dare to dream, the Premiership is so tight this season that Dundee cannot afford just yet to stop looking over their shoulders.
The Dark Blues travel to face second-bottom Kilmarnock today with just six points separating the sides.
He said: “It is a big week as when you look at the table, everything is so tight.
“It is just six points between Kilmarnock and us. The top six or even fourth place is a target for us this season but we also have to look over our shoulders as at six points, it is so tight.
“If we can keep going like we have in the last few weeks, then I am really positive about the season.
“But it is a really important week for us, especially with the cup game against Dumbarton on Tuesday.
“We want to go through to the next round to play Rangers.
“So it is a vital week for us.”
Konrad’s deal with Dundee runs out this summer but he revealed the club have already opened talks about him extending his contract and he would like nothing better than to stay at Dens.
He added: “I am out of contract at the end of the season.
“The club have spoken to me about it and I would like to stay as I love playing for Dundee.
“I enjoy life here in the city and I am really happy here. Dundee is very nice and I have a few friends here now.
“I am also satisfied with my performance in the last few weeks.
“I think it was the best thing for me to come to Scotland to play.
“In the last two years, I have played more than 60 games while the seasons before, I was injured a lot of the time and maybe only playing 20 games a year.
“So coming to Scotland was definitely the best move for me.”