McCann without Kamara for first time this season

Dundee boss Neil McCann will have to do something completely different in tomorrow’s crunch clash with St Johnstone – select a side for a Premiership game that does not include Glen Kamara.

The 22-year-old midfielder has started every league match for the Dark Blues this season but will sit out the Tayside derby with Saints because of suspension.

The only game the former Arsenal youth academy product has not started since he joined Dundee in the summer was the League Cup tie with Buckie Thistle away back on July 22 – although he did come off the bench in that fixture.

Kamara has made 37 appearances in total but his six bookings in the Premiership so far earned him a one-game ban as he crossed the disciplinary threshold.

The Finnish international was originally set to serve his suspension when his side travelled to Parkhead to face champions Celtic a week past Wednesday but the game fell victim to the wintry weather meaning the player will miss the Saints match.

While Jack Hendry made all the headlines with his big-money move to the Hoops on transfer deadline day, many would judge Kamara as arguably McCann’s best signing of last summer.

His Arsenal upbringing shines through and he is a calm and collected presence on the ball in the middle of the park.

He will be a big loss for the Dark Blues against St Johnstone, especially as fellow midfielder and another important player to the team Paul McGowan will also be absent through suspension.

That will almost certainly mean a recall to the starting line-up for Lewis Spence with the combative 22-year-old now fully recovered from ankle surgery.

As for Kamara, this is his first full season in senior football with the player also being called away on international duty and he will no doubt benefit from the enforced rest before returning with his batteries recharged.

Glen Kamara will sit out the Tayside derby.