Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Dee hit by Mulligan
Docherty calls on side to seize top six chance
DUNDEE boss Tony Docherty has suffered another injury blow with Josh Mulligan set to miss tonight’s huge Premiership clash with Aberdeen.
The midfielder joins a lengthy list of absentees with the Dark Blues gaffer keeping his fingers crossed key defender Owen Beck passes a late fitness test.
Docherty said: “Jordan McGhee is still out with his calf while Josh Mulligan has picked up a wee hamstring strain, which is a blow.
“Trevor Carson will be missing as well. He has a recurring problem with his knee which flares up every now and then so we are just giving him that opportunity to strengthen it and get back.
“Owen Beck has a wee issue but we are hoping he will be OK by kick-off.
“Zach Robinson is making a recovery, along with Diego Pineda and Ryan Howley.
“Lee Ashcroft is due to get an operation on his hamstring which is a huge blow for him but I don’t doubt his character and he will bounce back from that – absolutely.”
Docherty has urged his players to seize their chance of a topsix finish with Dundee sitting seventh in the table, just one point behind Hibs.
The 53-year-old said: “We have had some really good training days and there is a good feeling about the place. I always focus on the most important thing as the newly promoted team and that’s making sure you retain your Premiership status.
“That’s our first objective and we still need to make sure we do that and then we will look at what else comes. But there are five games left and I feel we are in a healthy position.
“I sense a real focus within the squad and we had this conversation, that if I had said to them we would be where we are at this stage of the season, they would have bitten my hand off.
“So we have to make the most of that opportunity.
“It is up to us to get our full focus on how we can impact the game and pick up the points.”
n Mexican defender Antonio Portales admits it would be fiesta time for him if he can realise his dream double this season.
The Dundee centre-half has been a standout for Docherty’s team this season after signing for the Dark Blues from Atlante in the summer.
The fans’ favourite has recently recovered from a hamstring injury and is determined to finish the campaign on a high.
Portales hopes to help Dundee secure a top-six finish and, from a personal point of view, earn a call-up to the Mexico squad for the Copa America in June.
The 27-year-old said: “The target for Dundee is to be in the first six places. It is very important for the club.
“Everyone in the team is working hard towards that objective to be in that situation.
“It would also be a dream for me if I could win a call-up for Mexico for the Copa America.
“The tournament will be in three months and hopefully I can do it.
“The Mexico coach knows me and all I can do is to try to play well for Dundee and, if the call comes, it is good – if not, it is no problem and I will try again.
“But if Dundee can get top six and I get a call-up from Mexico it would be fiesta time – party.”
Portales admitted it was a big learning curve for him on and off the pitch after he first arrived in Scotland.
However, he believes he has now fully acclimatised to everything this country can throw at him.
Portales added: “The football here is different – it is a lot more physical and you have to be strong on the pitch.
“The game in Scotland is a lot faster and a lot more direct. The strikers are all tall and strong.
“It is challenging and I know I need to compete all the time.
“But I feel I have learned and now understand football here – I am happy.
“I also like living in Dundee and it is a good city for me.
“To be here is a dream for me, playing in Scotland.
“I love Dundee FC, the atmosphere and the fans. The coaching staff and my
team-mates are all great with me. The weather can be difficult but I like it. Right now, back home it is around 30 or 32 degrees. But I enjoy the weather in Dundee.”
Portales has English lessons every day but he admitted his Dundee team-mate and Mexican compatriot Diego Pineda was a huge help to him in the early days in Scotland when he found himself lost in translation.
Portales added: “I met Diego four years ago and he is my friend and my brother right now.
“My English is better right now but the first days were tough for me. I understood, but speaking English was difficult.
“So Diego was a big help. He is a very good person.
“The people in Dundee are also very nice and sometimes they will shout in the street, ‘Hey, dos amigos! Diego! Antonio!”