Dundee manager John Brown has put the brakes on Peter MacDonald’s “chauffeur” role to help keep him in top gear on the pitch.
The popular “Peaso” was the designated driver who gave lifts from his home in the West to other players commuting to Dens.
However, boss Brown has now insisted the 32-year-old moves over into the passenger seat.
The manager said: “Peaso is a good pro. I had him as a kid at Rangers and he had bags of ability. He always scored goals, but his big problem was picking up injuries.
“He is making up for it now. He is living his life better, he eats the right things and he has his own fitness coach. He works away with him so we don’t have to train him every day. He has a real eye for goal and can bring in players round about him too.
“Another thing we have done with Peaso is curtailing his driving up from the West of Scotland every day. Other players are taking a share of the driving.
“Sometimes managers look at a player who is 30-plus and thinks, it’s time to get them out. But we have Gavin Rae, Peaso, Matty Lockwood and other boys who are touching 29 or 30 there is loads of experience there.
“They look after themselves, so I have no qualms about that. I think we have legs on the park and, as we have shown, we finish games really strongly.”
The latest strong finish came on Saturday when MacDonald and Craig Beattie netted the two goals that secured victory for Dundee over Queen of the South.
Beattie had been a major doubt in the week leading up to the game with a groin problem, but pleaded with Brown to be handed a start.
However, the manager was concerned that because of the heavy pitch he would aggravate the injury if he played the full 90 minutes and the decision paid off with the 29-year-old hitting what proved to be the winner.
Brown is expecting even more from the player who he believes is desperate to prove the doubters wrong.
He said: “A lot of people have written Craig off, so I want him to be involved in every game between now and the end of the season.
“If he does, then he will have proved people wrong, including one or two clubs in our division who turned him down.
“He is really motivated. Craig has played at international level and you have a look at what’s there now and think can I get back there?
“He is only 29. At that age you are coming into your peak. I felt I was at my peak between the ages of 28 and 32, so he possibly has another three years to enjoy playing with the help of all his experience.
“You might not have the legs from your early twenties but the knowledge you have got is that extra yard in the head. So if you have that and look after yourself it gets you through it.”