Deacon missed match due to ‘minor setback’

DUNDEE: Neil McCann hopes to have winger back for Livingston trip

Dundee boss Neil McCann has revealed Roarie Deacon missed Saturday’s game with Kilmarnock after suffering a minor setback in training.

The 26-year-old winger only returned to the team the week previously at Hamilton, coming on in the 87th minute for a late cameo.

Deacon played an important part in the Dark Blues’ second goal that sealed the points against Accies.

It was the first time he had featured this season after needing ankle surgery during the summer.

Deacon was then a notable absentee for Saturday’s match against Steve Clarke’s side that ended in a 2-1 defeat.

The manager said: “Roarie suffered a wee setback during the week.

“He has been out for a while and we weren’t going to take any chances with him. But it was just a minor thing.”

McCann hopes to have Deacon back after the international break for the trip to Livingston along with several others who have been in the treatment room recently.

Nathan Ralph, Genseric Kusunga, Josh Meekings, Paul McGowan and Sofien Moussa were also all missing from the squad against Killie through injury.

Speaking after Saturday’s match, McCann said: “There were plenty of positives from the game but I have told them they will be back in on Monday and we will go through a couple of things. But then we will allow them a few days off to recover because they have been working hard.

“Hopefully we will have four or five of the injured players back by the time we return from the international break.

“Then we will regroup and start working towards the next set of fixtures.”

Picture: SNS Group. Neil McCann is giving his squad time to recover over the international break.