Striking worry after big Sam says no to Dens

JAMES McPake admits Dundee have to improve their attacking options during the January transfer window.

With the future of Leigh Griffiths unclear, Jason Cummings expected to leave and Cillian Sheridan ruled out for the remainder of the season, a striker is on the Dens Park gaffer’s wish list this month.

However, the Dark Blues have been frustrated in their efforts to bring in new faces, with Canada midfielder Jay Chapman their only signing of 2022 so far.

Part of that frustration was being knocked back by former Aberdeen star Sam Cosgrove after having a loan bid accepted by the player’s club Birmingham City.

McPake says adding a striker who fired in more than 20 goals in back-to-back seasons for the Dons would have been an “exciting” addition to his squad.

However, he has quickly moved on to other targets.

“We spoke to Birmingham and Gordon (Strachan) spoke to Craig Gardner, their technical director,” revealed McPake.

“We asked the question of Sam but, at the minute, he has no plans to come back to Scotland.

“We met what Birmingham required but unfortunately the big man said he wasn’t wanting to come back.

“It’s his decision to stay in England. But if that changes, we’ll be interested.

“It’s one that would have been exciting but, at the minute, it doesn’t look like it’s happening for any Scottish club.”

Sheridan’s absence thanks to a nasty Achilles tendon injury means the Dark Blues are missing a bit of height in forward areas.

And having a different option to his current strikers is something McPake is keen to add in this month’s window.

Since returning from injury himself, Danny Mullen has been the first-choice frontman.

He repaid that faith with some key goals in November and December.

However, the Dens boss is keen to give Mullen a helping hand by bringing in some reinforcements.

McPake said: “Losing Cillian Sheridan was a blow but Danny gives us that option, too.

“He gets us up the pitch but he needs a wee bit of a hand. There is a massive void there when Danny doesn’t play.

“Griff brings different things, Jason (Cummings), too. They are all different but the way Cillian plays, the way Sam Cosgrove plays, it is different to what we have.

“Danny has been fantastic as a lone striker or with another player there.

“We need to be better at the top end of the pitch.

“Losing Cillian is a massive blow and that’s something we identified and have been trying to fix.”

Cummings, meanwhile, remains a Dundee player despite expectations he’d be moving on this month.

A high-profile breach of discipline in December saw him sent home “unfit” from training after appearing on stage at the Open Goal Live event in Glasgow dressed as the Joker from Batman.

The former Scotland striker hasn’t appeared for the Dark Blues since and has been linked with moves to Central Coast Mariners in Australia and Linfield in Northern Ireland.

However, he could be part of the Dark Blues squad to face Livingston on Tuesday night as the Premiership gets back under way following a three-week winter break.

Chapman won’t be there for the Dark Blues for the Livingston game as he awaits the approval of a work permit.

McPake has admitted Cummings is in a similar situation, suggesting a move Down Under could be less than imminent.

“Jason is training away fine,” McPake said.

“It is similar to Jay Chapman in that there are a lot of hoops to jump through.

“If Jason is still a Dundee player come Tuesday then he is available to play.”

James McPake