The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Dens midfielder rested in bid to help ankle knock
DUNDEE: Ness misses Lichties clash as boss targets Partick for return to action
Dundee boss James Mcpake has revealed that Jamie Ness will not play again until after the international break in a bid to help him fully recover from a troublesome ankle problem.
The midfielder initially suffered the injury against Cove Rangers in the Betfred Cup in July and then picked up further bone bruising in the Challenge Cup tie with Elgin City at the start of last month.
Ness has not played since, with Mcpake now taking the decision ahead of tomorrow’s Championship match with Arbroath to give the 28-year-old until the next game against Partick Thistle on October 19 to recuperate and come back finally free of the niggling problem.
The manager said: “Jamie is still the only one (who is out) but that will be after the international break now. We have made the decision as it has been lingering since the Cove game.
“You can think, ‘It is only bone bruising’, but when you add in twisting and turning all the time, with your ankle it can annoy you.
“He is frustrated but the good thing is it is not a reoccurrence of an old injury.
“So we have made the decision and he will get himself right for after the international break. “He will be a massive boost when he is back.” Paul Mcgowan missed last Friday’s game at Queen of the South with tonsillitis but he has trained all week and is in contention for the Arbroath match.
Dundee boss James Mcpake has revealed that Dick Campbell once tried to sign him – but ended up with a better deal when he landed Graham Dorrans instead.
The Dark Blues manager will lock horns with the veteran Arbroath gaffer at Dens tomorrow.
Campbell, who has also managed at the likes of Partick Thistle, Dunfermline, Ross County and Forfar, is someone Mcpake likes and respects.
As a player he came close to signing for Campbell when he was at Firhill but instead it was Dorrans, who is currently playing for the Dark Blues, who ultimately had a loan spell with the Jags.
Mcpake said: “I am a big admirer of Dick Campbell and what he has done throughout his career. The job he has done at Arbroath in particular has been great.
“He actually tried to sign me from Livingston when he was at Partick Thistle but I ended up going to Morton. He ended up getting Graham, so what a turn he got that time.
“But I admired him back then and played against his teams. I actually like him as well. He always gives you a lot of time as a young manager. And for that, I have a lot of time for him.”
After coming up from League 1 last season Arbroath were widely tipped to be the Championship whipping boys, but that has proved to be well wide of the mark.
The Red Lichties may have lost to Ayr last Saturday but they ran league leaders Dundee United close at Tannadice a fortnight ago and sit just one point behind Dundee in the league table.
So Mcpake is understandably wary of the threat they possess.
He said: “We have had them watched and I have seen them myself against Partick. They should have won that game comfortably. They were very good and, for me, should have been out of sight.
“Against United they hit the bar at 1-0 to go two up which might have altered the outcome of that game. They were very strong against United.
“Maybe their wee blip was last week but Ayr are a very strong side as well so I am not looking too much into that.
“I know exactly what to expect with them coming here.
“Like every team, Arbroath will be looking to take all three points.”
Mcpake added: “Dick’s team are a real threat and they will be comfortable in this league. They cause teams big problems and we really need to be at it come Saturday.
“They will bring a decent crowd and our fans will be behind us again urging us on, to get that performance, that kickstart.
“There are no excuses. We need to go out and put performances on that merit three points and also excite our fans.”