Kerr stresses the importance of blooding young players at Dens

The highest profile graduate of the Dundee youth set-up is encouraged about the next generation ready to make an impact in the first team.

Cammy Kerr has been impressed with U20 players Matty Henvey and Jack Lambert and impressed by Neil McCann in using them.

Both youngsters got game-time ahead of the winter break.

“It shows the belief the gaffer has in them, and rightly so,” said Kerr.

“It also shows the work that Jimmy Boyle is doing behind the scenes, along with the manager.

“It’s important to blood the young ones. I’m from Dundee and it’s great to see boys coming along and it’s important now that they integrate into the team.”

Henvey and Lambert made their Dundee debuts in the Boxing Day clash with Celtic, while Henvey was also a late substitute in the Tayside derby at McDiarmid Park.

The pair will be wanting more top team action now, a feeling Kerr can relate to.

He said: “When you have a wee taster for it, you’re so happy because you’re coming on. But suddenly something will happen where you’re left out due to boys coming back and it’s like a ton of bricks on you. That’s probably the hardest bit.

“You just want to be involved all the time. But it’s not a step back.

“It does tell you that in training you have to be bang at it. You keep going and your chance will definitely come again.

“It’s so important that these boys do that because they’ve definitely got something for the manager to believe in them.”