Dundee boss Paul Hartley has decided to make James McPake club captain – even although the big defender is highly unlikely to play at the start of the season.
The centre-half is still working his way back to full fitness after fracturing his kneecap during the New Year derby game with Dundee United.
McPake will travel with the Dundee squad to their training camp in Obertraun, Austria at the start of next month although he will be restricted to working hard with the club physio as well as helping Hartley out with coaching duties.
The manager will look to others to wear the skipper’s armband once the campaign begins in earnest with the Betfred Cup ties but he is convinced that McPake remains the best man to lead the club forward.
Hartley said: “James will be the club captain. He was someone we looked at straight away.
“If he does not start the season, we have one or two other options to step in and take the armband in Darren O’Dea and Gary Harkins.
“But James will be captain when he plays.
“James will not be back for pre-season. He is someone we have to take our time with.
“We need to make sure he is OK because it was a bad injury he suffered.
“He will come to Austria with us and will do some work. He will also be helping me out on the coaching side of things.
“We expect him to miss the first part of pre-season, as he will purely be working with the physio.”
