Is tough but work for us’

Although, ever the realist, he knows Stewart is a player who has ambitions to play at the highest level.

He says Dundee are expecting bids, with Birmingham readying a six-figure offer.

“We don’t want to sell Greg but there’s not a lot we can do,” he said. “Players have ambitions, also. The lad has ambitions.

“There have been no bids. He has started the season with four goals in two games. Will it hot up? It might hot up.”

Asked if he has a contingency plan for a potential Stewart departure, he said: “We just have to deal with it. “He is our player right now. “We will have to wait and see where we are at the end of the window.”

As well as trying to hang on to their best, Paul is now on the hunt for three new faces. And he hopes some of the fee received will come his way.

“We are two to three players short of where we want to be,” he said. “We are looking to strengthen.” While transfer talk has dominated the week, Paul has a more immediate task on his hands – putting a team together for the visit of Forfar tomorrow.

“It’s important we put in a good performance because we have to be right for the Ross County game,” he said.

“The league is the most important thing for us.

“Has it been a tough week? Yes. But I have probably faced tougher weeks.”

but the Dark Blues gaffer knows he will have his work cut out to find another 20-goal-plus striker after this week’s shock.