Jordan Marshall says this season has been his most frustrating yet at Dundee.
Individually, niggling injuries have kept him out for 13 matches.
And, collectively, the Dark Blues haven’t picked up the points they feel they should have to take control of the Championship title race.
However, Marshall is back fit and ready to help his side rediscover the momentum they had at the tail end of 2022, starting with today’s home clash with Inverness.
The left-back missed four games before returning from the bench last time out at Morton.
Annoying
“It has been a frustrating season in terms of injuries,” the former Queen of the South man said.
“I have had my fair share since I joined Dundee but these ones have been smaller and annoying ones.
“With the latest one, I thought it was just a kick against Dunfermline but then I got a scan and it showed there was a small tear which kept me out for a few weeks so I am just glad to be back.
“It feels fine now.
“At the start of the season, I got a big kick on my foot that kept me out for a few games and then I did my knee which kept me out for nine games.
“It seems like every time I have a little injury this season there have been midweek games so I have ended up missing more.
“Fingers crossed I can get a clear run until the end of the season.”
Anyone’s
Caley Thistle are the first opponents in a key triple-header this week for Dundee.
They follow that up with their game in hand on Tuesday at home to Partick Thistle before a trip to Cove Rangers next weekend.
The top of the table remains tight after none of the top three won last week – Queen’s Park lead the way, two points ahead of the Dee.
“This league is always like that with everyone beating each other,” Marshall added.
“We have been playing well lately but we just haven’t been picking up points.
“Luckily the other teams around us haven’t been either.
“It is tight and it is anyone’s to win, to be honest.
“But we are looking to win the league which we are more than capable of.”
Gowser
Although he hasn’t featured for the first team since October, there has been a notable absence at Dundee in the run-up to today’s game.
After eight-and-a-half years at Dens Park, Paul McGowan bade farewell to his team-mates as he headed for Dunfermline on loan for the rest of the campaign.
And Marshall says the 35-year-old will be a big miss around the club.
“I was training on Monday and didn’t know he was away,” the left-back added.
Welcome to KDM Group East End Park Paul 🏁
➡️ https://t.co/1V8afBvBIK pic.twitter.com/ctZZ4Ft6kz
— Dunfermline Athletic (@officialdafc) February 21, 2023
“I was slagging him off because he wasn’t in on the Monday!
“I have been with him for four years now and he is a friend of mine. He is a top lad who has been a great servant for this club and I wish him all the best.
“He obviously knows James McPake and Dave Mackay really well so I am sure he will fit in and be a success at Dunfermline.
“You have to get used to him and when I first signed he would moan at me and you would have to bite your tongue because that’s how he is.
“But he was brought up at Celtic and was used to those high standards.
“If you weren’t hitting those standards in training, he would tell you.
“Though, some days he wanted high standards but others he just wanted to moan for the sake of it!
“He will be a big miss for the lads and for me personally.”
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