Dundee boss John Brown could hand teenage sensation Craig Wighton his first competitive start against Queen of the South.
Peter MacDonald and Craig Beattie have been the strike pairing in the last four games for the Dark Blues, but former Scotland front man Beattie has been struggling all week with a groin problem and, although he intends to train on Firday, his participation against Queens is in doubt.
If he does fail to make it, Brown insists he would not think twice about handing 16-year-old Wighton a place in his starting line-up as Dundee look to make it four wins in a row in the league.
Brown said: “Beattie hasn’t trained since last Saturday with a tight groin so it gives a chance to Wighton. I’ve no fears about starting the boy. He looks as though he’s not far away from starting.
“The boy has got the quality and it doesn’t matter if he’s 16 or 26. He maybe doesn’t have the physical attributes of others but he’s got the intelligence, which is a great thing.
“We have other options like Steven Doris, Martin Boyle and Carlo Monti so we will have to see if Beattie does not make it. But I think the fans are looking forward to seeing Wighton in action as well.”
The last time Dundee and Jim McIntyre’s Queen of the South met on the opening day of the season, the Dark Blues were distinctly flattered by the 4-3 final score.
Brown is looking for his players to use that experience as motivation to make amends.
The manager added: “We haven’t forgotten about what happened on the first day of the season. Queens gave us the run-around for about an hour so we don’t what that to happen again.
“That is fresh in the players’ heads and we will go into the game knowing if we don’t put in 100% effort and bring our ‘A-game’, it will be a tough afternoon.
Meanwhile, Dundee defender KyleBenedictus is set for a spell on the sidelines after injuring a disc in his back.
Brown said: “Kyle has been to see the specialist and will be out for five weeks.”