The Dundee players owe their manager a big performance at Pittodrie after being hammered on their own pitch by St Johnstone a week ago, according to Glen Kamara.
The pressure is building on the Dark Blues as they get closer and closer to the relegation play-off position but beating Aberdeen would help undo the damage of the Saints game and be payback for McCann.
“As players, it’s not always the manager’s fault and you have to take some responsibility and put something on your own shoulders,” said Kamara.
“I feel we owe the manager a good performance. Hopefully we can give him that up in Aberdeen.”
Kamara was badly missed last weekend – as was Paul McGowan. Both return this afternoon, though.
“I’m looking forward to the game,” he said. “It’s been a while since I’ve played as a result of the weather and then the suspension.
“It wasn’t easy watching from the sidelines on Saturday and being unable to help your team do well. You want to be out there.”
Dundee’s run of pre-split matches has led many to believe they will be in even deeper trouble than they are now by the time the Premiership divides into two.
But Kamara thinks playing the top sides in the league presents an opportunity.
“Aberdeen are doing well at the moment and are up there round about Celtic and Rangers which speaks volumes for them,” he said.
“It will be a tough game so collectively we’ll need to be at it.
“We have to be at our best as individuals and a team.
“We’ve got four hard games – Aberdeen, Hearts, Celtic and Rangers – before the split but we’ll be ready for each one of them as they come along.
“If we can pick up points anything can happen and, of course, it can be huge for confidence.”
