Hateley insists his best is yet to come for Dark Blues

The centre-back told Dundee’s official website: “Delighted to get it done.

“First and foremost, everything the club has done for me since the injury has been different class.

“From people who run the club, to the manager to the physio. Everybody around the club day in, day out have been so supportive.

“There is nothing which has been too big a deal, what we needed to do, who we needed to see or what equipment we needed. The club have been great and I am very thankful for that.

“It’s great to be here for another couple of years and I’m really excited to get back on to the pitch, hopefully soon, and do my bit and repay the faith the club have showed me.”

Dundee managing director John Nelms paid tribute to McPake’s dedication.

“Jaz is vastly experienced and has a character that you wished all players would mimic,” Nelms said. “He is a major contributor to the club both on the pitch and behind the scenes and we are happy to have him as long as we can.”

McPake is now looking to build on his move from the gym to the training field.

“It was good to be back involved with the boys, albeit I was a bit away from them doing my own thing,” the 32-year-old said.

“Nine-and-a-half months to get the boots on and get back on the grass, it’s a huge step and to get back out there was really good and I really enjoyed it.”

Meanwhile Tom Hateley insists the best is yet to come from him in a dark blue jersey.

The 27-year-old was a late summer signing for Dens boss Paul Hartley, only joining the club at the start of last month.

Hateley, who had been without a team since leaving Polish outfit Slask Wroclaw at the end of last season, was thrown in at the deep end against Kilmarnock just days after putting pen to paper but he missed the Celtic game recently because of a groin problem.

That cleared up over the international break but then Hateley was struck down by a bug at the start of last week and it was touch-and-go whether he would be able to play against Hearts at the weekend.

However, he more than played his part against the Jambos, hitting the woodwork twice before he finally had to come off in the 76th minute.

Hateley said: “I was ill and I also had a groin problem so I didn’t train for two or three weeks.

“I did a little bit last Thursday, trained Friday and played against Hearts. I don’t think I was ever going to manage to play the 90 minutes but I felt good up until I came off as I was starting to cramp up a little bit.

“As long as I can train this week, then I will be raring to go again next week.

“The illness at the start of last week knocked it out of me but I am glad to be out there and I just want to help the team push on up the table to where I personally think we deserve to be.

“I definitely feel there is more to come from me.

“I want to bring as many goals and assists to the team and try to impact the games.

“I just want to be playing football at the best level I can and I still feel like I can do that – hopefully over the next few weeks that will happen.”

Dundee have handed long-term injury victim James McPake a contract extension following his return to the training ground.

The former Livingston, Coventry and Hibernian defender has signed a deal until the summer of 2019.

The club captain has been out of action since fracturing his kneecap against Dundee United in January, but took part in a light session with physio Gerry Docherty on Tuesday.

James McPake: back in training.