Dundee manager Paul Hartley believes it is merely down to luck that Greg Stewart hasn’t been badly injured.
The Dark Blues striker will be fit to face Hamilton Accies at New Douglas Park tomorrow but it could have been a different story but for some good fortune.
With just 28 minutes gone of the last game against Motherwell at Dens, Stewart was on the end of a late, sliding tackle from opposition player Louis Moult.
As the Dundee man left the park for treatment to his ankle, it was feared that he would be sidelined for weeks.
However, Hartley, who called for more protection for his frontman after that Well match, was happy to report yesterday that, luckily, he will be able to face Accies.
The Dens boss said: “He is fine and it’s a big boost for us because he has been in excellent form.
“He started training on Monday and suffered no reaction.
“So he got away with it. He was a bit lucky.
“We expected the worst but he has been fortunate.”
Dundee skipper Kevin Thomson won’t make it tomorrow but he is getting closer to a comeback, while Paul McGowan’s foot fracture is continuing to heal, Nicky Low is slowing recovering from illness and James McPake (jaw) is about a week away from a return.
Hartley said: “Thommo will probably be another 10 days to two weeks.
“McGowan will get his boot off on Friday and so will start training on Monday, with a view to trying to get a practice match in for him.
“Nicky trained this week after his virus and we will probably give him another week’s training.
“McPake will probably miss this weekend but we would hope to have him back next week.”
Meanwhile, Hartley has been doing his homework on Accies and is expecting a difficult challenge from them.
He added: “I think it’s a tough game for anybody going there.
“I have seen them in a couple of games live now and they have done really well.
“They work as a good unit but they also have good players.
“They are certainly strong at home.
“They are a real handful and any time you face a Hamilton team you know you’re in for a tough match.”