Injury-hit Dundee in swoop for Meekings

DUNDEE have bolstered their injury-plagued defence by signing former Inverness Caley Thistle star Josh Meekings on a one-year deal. But it is unlikely the 24-year-old centre-half, who last played for Inverness on Hogmanay, will go straight into the squad for today’s match at Aberdeen, where Neil McCann’s side are seeking their first points of the Premiership campaign. Meekings rejected a new deal with relegated Inverness after suffering a knee injury towards the end of last season and has spent the summer undergoing rehabilitation work with Dundee. Now his arrival could prove timely, with skipper Darren O’Dea sidelined because of knee trouble and the club relying on the youthful central pairing of Kerr Waddell and Jack Hendry. Kosta Gadzhalov is still struggling for fitness, while Julen Etxabeguren and James McPake remain long-term absentees. Englishman Meekings spent six years with Caley Thistle, helping them to an historic Scottish Cup triumph in 2015. A Dundee statement read: ‘The 24-year-old centre-half has been with the club through the summer working hard on the rehabilitation of a knee injury sustained last season. ‘He has worked closely with physio Gerry Docherty at the club and is currently focusing on getting up to match fitness.’ Hendry, meanwhile, believes Dundee need to shake off their shackles if they are to get off the mark in the league. Their campaign opened with defeats to Ross County and Hamilton, with the only positive to date their Betfred Cup victory over city rivals Dundee United. Former Partick Thistle and Wigan defender Hendry, 22, said: ‘We have to go out and play with a freedom, no matter who we are playing. ‘Every game in this league is going to be tough, so we must believe in our ability and be confident. ‘We just need to approach it believing every game is winnable and then try to perform to our best ability. ‘Obviously, there will be some things we will work on to stop Aberdeen. But if we can perform on the day, then we will have a real good chance.’