Dark Blues midfield star Kamara back in contention for Brechin cup clash

Boss McCann without Kusunga, and Moussa a doubt, for Brechin clash

Dundee boss Neil McCann will welcome star midfielder Glen Kamara back into his squad for today’s Betfred Cup tie with Brechin – although the manager has yet to decide whether he will risk playing the Finnish international.

The 22-year-old injured his ankle in training last week and missed the defeat to Dunfermline in the same competition as well as the midweek win up in Peterhead.

Kamara has now recovered although the participation of striker Sofien Moussa, who took pain-killing injections to play against Jim McInally’s side, is in doubt, while centre-half Genseric Kusunga, who was also injured in the Pars game, will definitely be missing.

McCann said last night: “Glen has been tentative with the injury and I think we had to be.

“As I have said, we will take no risks but I am pleased he is back in the squad.

“He is in contention and I will make a decision on him tomorrow.

“Moussa took a few injections to get him on to the field so he is a bit sore after those.

“I am pleased he was able to do that because there were a couple of times last year maybe we were asking him to play and he didn’t make it.

“So we leaned on him a wee bit and he came through for us with those injections. I have had many myself and you end up achy the next day.

“But hopefully he will be all right. “Gensy will not be fit. It was a real solid boot he got on his ankle as the boy was trying to shoot. It was a sore one but he is back walking about again.

“However, Nathan (Ralph) was back training with us today.”

The Pars are in pole position in Betfred Group D after their three wins over Peterhead, Dundee and their 7-1 thrashing of Brechin in midweek.

The Dark Blues still hope to qualify as one of the four best runners-up and goal difference could prove crucial but McCann has told his players just to concentrate on winning the Brechin game first and foremost.

He expects the visitors – bossed by former Dundee United defender Darren Dods – to be fired up following that loss.

The Dens manager added: “We were obviously pleased to win the game the other night which puts us into a position to hopefully go on and qualify should we win the Brechin game.

“There are a number of teams who can hit the nine points but our goal difference is healthy which helps.

“We have a fair idea of what we need to do but winning is the most important thing.

“Brechin I think will be coming and looking for a reaction to say the least. I don’t think they will make it easy.

“I expect Brechin to have a real bit of aggression because they are better than their result. It would have been a sore one to take.

“But we know what we have to do. “I had strong words with the players after the Dunfermline game.

“It was a better performance against Peterhead but we are now at home again and we need to put on a performance here.”

Dundee’s Canadian striker Marcus Haber was linked with a possible loan move to Paul Hartley’s Falkirk earlier this week but McCann said: “Marcus was back on the bench again (at Peterhead) and he will be in the squad tomorrow.”