Hartley hopes coaching role is helping McPake

Dundee boss Paul Hartley hopes having James McPake involved with coaching the first team will help the player on his long journey back to full fitness.

The centre-half is still recovering from a horrific knee injury sustained against Dundee United in the New Year derby on January 2.

McPake is working hard in the gym, but it will be next year before he can consider a comeback.

Hartley is aware the mental battle is just as tough as the physical one for McPake, and hopes that by keeping him involved with the playing squad, it is a fight he is winning.

The manager said: “It is a slow one, and we are talking about into next year for James.

“He has been doing a lot more work in the gym but it is difficult for him.

“Mentally it is tough, but I think us having him involved with the first team has helped keep his mind occupied.

“We have given him that responsibility and I think he needs that, where he has a purpose at the end of the week.

“So he has been helping us and he has been doing a lot of games for me as well in terms of watching the opposition. But it is still a long, slow process for James.”

Former Kilmarnock and Dundee goalkeeper Kyle Letheren has joined up with former Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara at Vanarama National League side York City.