Etxabeguren in with chance of facing Jambos

Dundee: Dark Blues’ Spanish defender making progress after shoulder injury

Dundee defender Julen Etxabeguren could return against Hearts on Saturday.

The Spanish centre-back was ruled out of last weekend’s thrashing by Rangers as a result of a shoulder injury sustained at Celtic a week ago.

His recovery is progressing well but it will be touch and go whether the former East Fife player is ready for the visit of Robbie Neilson’s men.

Meanwhile, midfielder Nick Ross is hoping to put Dundee’s cup heartache behind them when they get back to league business.

And the former Inverness man admitted that the Dark Blues are now walking a tightrope. “It can go either way for us,” he said. “Win a couple of games and people will be talking about fourth.

“Lose a couple and people might be putting you in a fight to avoid 11th place.

“We can’t look too far ahead. The defeat to Rangers was a reminder of that.

“We are at a turning point in our season. We can go up with a few results or be looking down with a few losses.

“We need to bounce back and make a place in the top six our own now. That’s where our efforts have to turn towards.”

Ross added: “Hopefully we can forget about the cup game and move on.

“It won’t be easy because it hurts so much. But the quicker we forget about this the better.

“We have to get our heads together for Hearts at the weekend. We are under no illusions, we know that will be tough too.”

Meanwhile, the rearranged game between Dundee and Celtic at Dens Park will take place on Tuesday April 5.

The match has twice been postponed – on December 30 and again on February 9. It will be Dundee’s second last game before the league splits in two.