Dundee skipper Stephen O’Donnell’s miserable run of luck has continued with a bout of tonsillitis forcing the postponement of his knee operation.
The midfielder was set to go under the knife today to repair the cruciate ligament he tore in the Tayside derby playing against St Johnstone at the start of this month.
The injury ended what has been a nightmare season for O’Donnell who had been sidelined with a groin problem since August, before making a comeback against Celtic on Boxing Day.
Now, he has been hit with this latest setback and he admitted: “It just sums up my season. It’s another frustration but hopefully, the operation can get done soon and I can start my comeback.”
Meanwhile, Dundee boss Barry Smith is hoping that John Baird will embark on a goal-scoring spree now that he has broken his SPL duck.
The former Raith Rovers striker has endured a miserable time in front of goal since signing during the summer.
However, Smith is hoping that the player’s counter against Hibs on Saturday will be just the first of many.
He said: “I was delighted for John to get off the mark. Any striker thrives on confidence so hopefully John can build on this.
“People probably don’t praise him enough for the work he puts in during games,” said Dark Blues boss Barry Smith. “So it was great for him to get his reward with a goal.
“John is a real player’s player and now he’s got that first goal it will make him hungry for more.”
Nicky Riley missed training again on Tuesday with a calf problem but Faroese trialist Pol Johannus Justinussen was put through his paces, as was an unnamed young striker from an English Championship club.