Dee fans fired up as hitman Griffiths targets Livi

DUNDEE fans are desperate to see Leigh Griffiths in action for Dundee.

And those at Dens Park tomorrow could be in for a treat.

The frontman has been training hard with his new team-mates in what is his second spell at Dens – and also played and scored in a bounce game with Hearts last week.

And James McPake is now ready to unleash the 31-yearold – who has vowed to get Dens Park rocking again – against Livingston.

The Dark Blues boss said: “Leigh is in the squad for Saturday. He trained well today.

“He only played 30 minutes against West Ham for Celtic but he had 60 minutes in a bounce game and he has had a good week’s training – he is looking great and I am enjoying working with him again.”

Griffiths could provide the extra spark to ensure Dundee register their first Premiership win of the season at the fifth time of asking.

McPake said: “Take out the Celtic game and performances have been at a consistent level and we have been unlucky.

“But unlucky is not going to keep us in the league – we need to pick up wins.

“It will turn as they are still working hard and we have brought Leigh in which adds to the group as well.

“The results will come if we keep performing the way we have been – I have no doubt about that.

“Livi got to a cup final last year so they are a good side and we know they are coming here looking for their first win as well.

“You always want to get your first win on the board and Livi will be the same.

“But we can only concentrate on what we do and come Saturday we want all three points.”

Meanwhile, McPake admits he feared Livingston would go to the wall when he was captain of the club.

The 37-year-old came through the ranks at Almondvale alongside the likes of Graham Dorrans, Robert Snodgrass and Griffiths, who all went on to become Scotland internationals.

However, off the pitch, Livi were blighted by financial troubles, entering administration in 2004 and then for a second time five years later under Italian ownership.

Now, as Dundee boss, McPake will welcome his former club to Dens tomorrow with both sides desperate to secure their first Premiership win of the season.

And the manager admitted that the turbulent times he experienced at Livingston are in sharp contrast to the rock-solid stability that American owners

Tim Keyes and John Nelms have brought to Dundee.

The manager said: “I had a great time at Livingston, starting with the likes of Graham (Dorrans), Snods (Robert Snodgrass), Murray Davidson, Dave Mackay and Leigh.

“However, the administrations were tough. The first didn’t affect us as much as we were young players on low money but the second time when I was club

captain and the Italians came in, it was pandemonium.

“They were tough, tough times. We weren’t getting paid and it really sinks in. At that point I had a house but thankfully for me, I got my move to Coventry in the English Championship.

“I signed my pre-contract agreement at the start of December but I never got paid for the two months after that.

“But that’s not the football club now, that was the owners at the time. I had been at Livingston from school and there were some lovely people there.

“At the very end when the Italians were in charge I had real concerns for the club.

“I thought Livi could go to the wall. Thankfully it didn’t happen but Dundee is my club now.”

And McPake is delighted that his club is in such safe hands. He added: “In the years I have been here – and we have gone through a global pandemic and been promoted in a global pandemic – Tim and John have made this a really stable football club.

“If you are talking about being worried whether your wages are going in the bank, then I have never had that here.

“You could say comparing Tim and John to those Italian owners is night and day but it is a lot more extreme than that.”