Kane Hemmings has been praised for climbing out of his sick bed to lead the line for Dundee in Dumfries.
The English striker had been expected to miss the match away to Queen of the South after falling ill towards the end of last week.
Indeed, manager James McPake conducted his final training session without Hemmings and was a looking at a plan B for the clash with the Doonhamers on Saturday.
As it turned out, the frontman was in his usual place in attack as the Dark Blues won the match 1-0, thanks to a goal from central defender Jordon Forster.
McPake has singled out Hemmings for going the extra mile for the team, saying: “Kano didn’t train Thursday or Friday because he had been ill.
“We had actually shaped up in training without him.
“He saw the doctor on Friday and we spoke to him on Saturday morning.
“He came in, worked his socks off and was a real threat.
“You could see by the end of the game that he was really fatigued.
“He was probably frustrated that he never got his goal but his workrate was great for 70 minutes before he tired.
“All credit to him for that because he wasn’t even taking much fluid on for those two days.
“He has been excellent all season.
“He has been someone who has done everything that I have asked of him since the minute he came into the club.
“I have been delighted with Kano.”
McPake, whose players face Arbroath at Dens Park this weekend, isn’t just pleased with Hemmings, of course, but with the whole of the team for putting together back-to-back wins and consecutive clean sheets.
He said: “I am very cautious about saying it has been all about the defenders because it hasn’t.
“As a team we have defended as a unit.
“We are harder to break down and harder to beat.
“The last three games, including the draw at Morton, have given us the performance level we have been looking for.
“The defenders will be very happy with the clean sheets, as will our goalie.”
