The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
More injury woe for Dens midfielder
Jamie Ness’s injury torment shows no signs of ending, with Dundee manager James McPake revealing that the midfielder has suffered yet another setback, writes Eric Nicolson.
The calf problem that first became an issue in the Betfred Cup in midJuly forced the former Rangers and Stoke City man off early in Saturday night’s cup clash with Motherwell.
As you might expect, the season is becoming a “tough” ordeal for the 28-year-old.
“It’s the same injury unfortunately,” McPake reported. “It’s a really sad one for him again. He’s having a tough, tough time. “It’s the bottom of the calf/ankle. “We’ve done everything we can. He’ll be back in the hands of the physio and take it from there.
“He’d been feeling good and played in a game on Tuesday and trained fine before and after that.
“He can’t judge when it’s coming. “It’s frustrating for me as a manager but we’re dealing with human beings and it’s Jamie who has to deal with it.
“I’ve been that player – the player who can never get a run of games.
“Nobody wants to be injured. You’re always trying to get fit. I really feel for him. Mentally it’s very tough.
“We know how much he would bring to our team but he’s not been right since that Cove game probably.”
Meanwhile, new recruits could be on the agenda at Dens this week.
“Hopefully there will be some news on a couple,” said McPake. “We’re working very hard to add to the squad.
“With Josh Todd and Josh McPake away and Sean Mackie injured we’re short.
“We need help in a couple of positions but we’re looking at the summer as well.”
The ‘no news is good news’ theme hasn’t changed as far as the Graham Dorrans situation is concerned.
McPake said: “MK Dons will be the same as me and will push things right to the end.
“I’ve been waiting on an answer with one player for two weeks. That could be the case with Graham and MK Dons but I hope it’s not.
“Until the window shuts I can’t relax on that.”
Andrew Nelson is still a “week away from running”. ● Dundee’s game against Partick Thistle has been brought forward to Saturday February 8.