Stewart just happy to prove doubters wrong

In-demand striker returns from injury to net hat-trick in Dens Park victory

Dundee 6 Dumbarton 2

Greg Stewart almost blushes at the suggestion of being irreplaceable, but can still remember the day some cynics even doubted he could cope with life at the highest level.

The in-demand Dundee striker, fully fit again following a thigh injury he sustained during pre-season in Austria, saw his stock rise still further with an accomplished hat-trick in Saturday’s League Cup demolition of Dumbarton which more than made amends for their disappointing draw away to East Fife.

Stewart showed his true worth to the Dark Blues in this Group A clash with a scintillating second-half display which boss Paul Hartley later described as ‘sublime’, before openly admitting they could never realistically replace their prized asset if he does, as seems increasingly likely, move on to pastures new.

The 26-year-old is in the final year of his contract having shone since day one at Dens after being plucked from Cowdenbeath where he displayed undoubted potential two years ago.

And the fans’ favourite, who has been linked with Rangers, Aberdeen and Leeds United, easily recalls the not-sodistant past when more than just a few felt he would be more inclined to struggle to make such a big impact in the Scottish top flight.

Stewart said: “I don’t know about being irreplaceable. That’s not for me to say. But I was probably one of the boys who wasn’t expected to do all that well coming from Cowdenbeath where I was part-time back then.

“Still, I’ve done what I’ve done at this level and just kept it going as well as I can.

“There are definitely a lot of top players in the lower leagues who could move up to the Premiership.

“When you get that chance, you’ve just got to take it with both hands.

“It’s difficult to say if that was my best performance in a Dundee jersey.

“Put it this way, though, we played some good stuff in the second-half compared to the first 45 minutes and that was the difference in the end.”

Dundee have slapped a £1.5 million price tag on Stewart’s head as they try to avoid the worst-case scenario of losing their talisman for free next summer.

Stewart is refusing to become uptight about his own future and is the first to admit that nobody has bigger overall expectations than himself.

He added: “I just want to try and ignore all the speculation.

“I want to do my best for Dundee and I’ve still got another year left on my contract.

“As long as I’m here, I’ll give 110% in every game I play.”

Dundee trailed 2-1 at half-time to goals from Dumbarton duo Frazer Wright and Gregor Buchanan after Stewart had given the hosts an early lead.

It was yet more slack defending from the hosts that lead to a chorus of boos from their own supporters at half-time amid fears of a potential shock result being on the cards.

But Kane Hemmings’ intervention in front of goal, allied to a textbook header from skipper Darren O’Dea ultimately sank the spirited Sons, and Stewart revealed how a few home truths at the break fired up the hosts to turn things round.

He said: “It was convincing in the end to be fair.

“It wasn’t good enough from myself in the first-half and for the team as a whole that was definitely the case too.

“So a few words were said at half-time and we sorted it out after the break.

“That’s it finished with now and we can start to focus on Tuesday night’s game up in Peterhead.”

Picture: SNS Group. Greg Stewart goes to celebrate with strike partner Kane Hemmings after completing his hat-trick.

Greg Stewart: trying to ignore the speculation over his future and do his best for Dundee.