Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
First-team men given game time
DUNDEE were set to give several first-team men game time when the Development League side faced St Johnstone this afternoon.
New signing Mark Klok was one of that number who was i n line f or a run-out up at Station Park, Forfar.
The Dutchman made his debut in the draw at Inverness Caley Thistle on Saturday when he came on for Tom Hateley inside the last 10 minutes.
That was his first competitive action since he came on for Oldham in an English League One clash with Scunthorpe in mid-October.
And his l ast top-team start was for the Latics a month earlier.
Klok’s fitness in training since he was signed up at Dens a week ago has been impressive but he does need games.
Meanwhile, the emphasis in training for the first team this week will very much be on getting ahead and staying ahead.
The players are still hurting after blowing their two-goal lead at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium and needed a penalty save from goalkeeper Scott Bain to secure a point.
That meant the gap to the bottom-of-the-table Highlanders stayed at five points.
But the visit of Kilmarnock this Saturday, when most of the rest of the top flight are in Scottish Cup action, i s another chance for the Dark Blues to increase that margin to eight points.
“That was a big opportunity on Saturday and we said that at halftime to try to see the game out,” said boss Paul Hartley.
“We didn’t, so we’ve got to get better at that, seeing games out.
“We’ve got a chance this week to do that and kick ourselves into the top six.”