Dundee midfielder Paul McGowan faces a further month on the sidelines with a foot fracture.
The midfielder had thought he was suffering from an ankle problem and hadn’t featured for the Dens men since the August 29 home draw against Inverness Caley Thistle
It was believed, though, that he was on the mend and would be in line for a comeback reasonably soon.
However, a follow-up scan has shown up the fracture and that means he will be looking as far ahead as next month before planning a return to action.
Dark Blues boss Paul Hartley confirmed: “McGowan had got a fracture in his foot.
“He will probably be out for another three, four or even five weeks.
“We thought he was OK but at the start of the week he got a secondary scan on it.
“The result is that he will have to go around in a (protective) boot.
“It’s a shame because he hasn’t really been able to get going.
“However, we not had him for the past few weeks anyway so we just need to get on with it,”
Dundee will also be without Nicky Low for Saturday’s home clash agaisnt managerless Motherwell.
He has been ruled out because of illness and Hartley added: “He is still ill and it’s a bad virus to be honest with you.”
On top of all that, defender James McPake is a doubt for the Well game because of an injury to his jaw.
The Dundee boss said: “James is touch-and-go with his jaw and we will just need to wait and see how he is.
“He got a knock in the first minute of last week’s game with Ross County from (Liam) Boyce and we don’t want to risk it if it’s a bad one.”