The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Strachan a ‘sounding board’ as Dark Blues target victory
DUNDEE: Dens men hungry to fight their way back into the play-off spots
Dundee manager James McPake is using Gordon Strachan as a valuable “sounding board” as he tries to navigate the club back into the play-off spots.
The former Scotland and Celtic manager, working at Dens as the club’s technical director, has been providing McPake with advice all season.
The Dark Blues need to get back winning again after going five matches without a victory.
The latest result, a 1-1 away draw with Greenock Morton, saw them drop down into sixth spot in the Championship, leapfrogged by both Dunfermline and Arbroath, who beat Queen of the South and Dundee United respectively.
Dundee do have a chance to move back in the right direction when they play Partick Thistle at Dens on Saturday and McPake will be speaking with Strachan as he formulates a plan to beat the Jags.
McPake said: “I still regularly chat with Gordon.
“He was at the Dunfermline game and he is about the stadium a lot.
“We bump into each other all the time.
“I phone him most days as well which is great having that option.
“He gives me advice and is a great sounding board.
“He has been at the very highest level as a player and manager so I am taking all I can from him.
“He is a real help.”
What will also be a real help is the return of Andrew Nelson.
He played in a bounce game yesterday and has now fully recovered from the operation to fix his broken hand.
McPake added: “I am delighted Andrew is back.
“Even for a game like Saturday’s at Morton, we could have done with him on the pitch with his energy and the tempo he brings.
“He had his final bit of work on his hand done on Monday.
“He has done all his conditioning and we will get him up to speed to be ready to go on Saturday.”
McPake has kept the door open for deals to be done in the free agent market but nothing is imminent. A move for 34-year-old former Celtic and Burnley man Ross Wallace remains a possibility.