Dundee boss Barry Smith revealed how he’s taken youngsters Craig Forsyth and Kyle Benedictus aside to assure them their current exile from the starting line-up won’t last for ever.
Neither Forsyth nor Benedictus have started under Smith. Both have instead been introduced from the bench against Stirling County and Dunfermline FC, but the manager has told the pair they’ll get their chance.
“I feel a wee bit sorry for Craig and Kyle just now when they’re not playing,” he said. “But I’ve spoken to them and made clear they’ll still have a big part to play this season.
“We’re going to need everybody we have left here.
“I felt it was important to tell these boys they are very much still in my thoughts.”
Smith admitted his side will have to be at their best against Falkirk FC on Saturday after he watched the Bairns edged out of the Co-operative Insurance Cup in midweek.
He has asked his defence to raise their game a notch as the Dark Blues look to record a first victory under him.
“I was up at Aberdeen on Tuesday and Falkirk played really well in the first half and probably edged the second as well,” he said. “So despite the defeat they’ll be confident.
“We just need to minimise the errors we make. To be honest our back four have been doing really well. But sometimes the difference between winning and losing can be one wee mistake.
“That’s the downside of being a defender. Strikers can miss two or three chances and get away with it whereas one slip at the back and it can prove really costly.”
Meanwhile, on-loan striker David Witteveen has an outside chance of making the subs’ bench at Falkirk.
“David got through this morning’s training session and hopefully there’s no reaction,” said Smith.
“His match fitness, of course, isn’t great as he’s not played for weeks, but if we need to call on him for the bench then hopefully we’ll be able to do that.”