Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Skipper ups his training regime
DUNDEE skipper James McPake is nearing a return to full training, although the club are reluctant to set a comeback date f or t he influential centre-back.
McPake has been continuing his long road to recovery with club physio Gerry Docherty.
He has been doing more sessions on the training pitch lately as he bids to put an end to his injury nightmare.
The Dark Blues defender was seriously hur t 10 months ago against Dundee United when he fractured his kneecap in a challenge with John Rankin.
Despite his i n j u r y, McPake recently signed an extension to his contract, to which he thanked the club for their help through his time out.
On matchdays, he is seen taking the defenders for some positional work after the warm-up and is highlyregarded by manager Paul Hartley, who has also sent him to do match reports on Dundee’s opponents.
At 32-years-old, he still has good years ahead of him on t he park if his comeback is successful.
If not, though, a future in coaching may lie in front of him, too, as he is gaining his qualifications at the moment.
Meanwhile, Dundee are set t o wear t heir pinkcoloured limited-edition third strip on Saturday.
The top was made to help raise funds for Maggie’s Dundee and will coincide with a sponsored walk from the cancer support centre at Ninewells Hospital to Dens Park before the game against Motherwell on Saturday.
Among those doing the three-mile walk will be former Dundee goalkeeper Derek Souttar.
Fans are also being asked to turn up in pink to show their support for such a worthy cause.