Dundee have been hit with a major blow ahead of Saturday’s crunch Championship clash at Cowdenbeath with the news that Ryan Conroy is set to miss the next three weeks through injury.
The 26-year-old scored what proved to be the winner from the penalty spot against Queen of the South last week but picked up a knock in the same game.
With Christian Nade also being ruled out because of injury, Dens boss Paul Hartley who already had long-term injury victims Steven Doris, Craig Beattie and Stephen O’Donnell missing admits his squad will be stretched for the visit to Central Park.
There is light at the end of the tunnel for two others, however, with the manager saying: “Nicky Riley will be back in the squad and so should Iain Davidson. Riley could be on the bench. That would be a big boost and he’s had a good week’s training under his belt.
“Christian Nade is out though with a hamstring strain picked up in the reserve game this week and Ryan is out for three weeks. He took a knock last week and it’s a blow because he’s been doing well for us.
“We’re kind of down to the bare bones a bit. People go on about the big squad Dundee have but it’s not really.
“Craig Wighton has also come down with a sickness bug and we will have to see how he is. There could be a couple of younger ones on the bench this weekend.”
Hartley will lock managerial horns at Cowdenbeath with someone he knows very well in Jimmy Nicholl.
The Dundee manager is a big admirer of the Northern Irishman and he has warned his squad that Nicholl will have his players who are sitting second bottom of the league well drilled and fired up.
Hartley also pinpointed Blue Brazil front two of Greg Stewart and Kane Hemmings as the danger men the Dark Blues must be wary of.
Hartley said: “Jimmy Nicholl has done well at Cowdenbeath. He signed me twice for Millwall and also Raith Rovers so I have a lot of respect and time for him.
“They have some good players there and I like Hemmings and Stewart up front. Hemmings caused us problems at Alloa and they’ve brought in James Fowler from Kilmarnock as well.
“They are a real threat to us on Saturday. They’ve really improved since Jimmy took over.
“He’s got them well drilled and they’re on a good run of form. This is a tough, tough game for us.
“Jimmy is really good about the dressing-room and on the training field as well.
“He gives the players good belief in their ability. He’ll have his players fired up and they’re fighting for their lives.
“We’ve spoken to our lads about what’s required. It might not be a pretty game for us in terms of conditions and the park but it’s definitely not a turn-up job for us. They’ve been well warned.”