The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Hartley hails brave McPake
Dens Park boss hails comeback captain - and receives defender Gomis boost
Dundee boss Paul Hartley has spoken of his delight after James McPake made his long-awaited playing comeback.
The big defender had been out of action since suffering a horrific knee fracture in the derby with United on January 2 at Dens.
The 32-year-old has bravely battled his way back to full fitness and played for the Under-20s against Rangers on Wednesday.
And Hartley revealed that despite being sidelined for so long, McPake was as whole-heartedly committed as ever and didn’t shirk a tackle.
The manager said: “James played for the Under-20s which was really pleasing for us.”
Hartley continued: “James did really well playing 45 minutes. He felt good but naturally is a little tired this morning.
“He was just totally committed as usual and didn’t pull out at all during the game.
“James still has a good bit to go but the pleasing thing is he came through the game all right.”
While McPake is naturally not in contention for tomorrow’s vital league game at Dens against Ross County, fellow defender Kevin Gomis – who had to fly back to France last week to be by his wife’s side as she gave birth – is available again.
However, midfielder Mark O’Hara is still overcoming the effects of a hernia operation and will miss out once again.
Hartley said: “Kevin is back from France and he should be OK for Saturday.
“Mark O’Hara did a little bit of light training today. He probably needs another 10 days or so after his setback.
“I think it is just what happens with hernias. He is fine running but has a little pain with kicking. He is feeling a lot better though today. Hopefully he is not too far away. James Vincent has trained. He was ill before the Kilmarnock game after picking up a bug.
“He felt he had to give it a go but he had no energy and had to come off.
“Nicky Low picked up a knock in the 20s game last week but he played on Wednesday night as did Michael Duffy.”
Dundee undoubtedly had a bad day at the office last Saturday when they were beaten 2-0 by Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
The players acknowledged that they were far from their best but Hartley was keen to draw a line under that loss and instead look forward to the Staggies test.
He said: “We have to move on. We are disappointed as we didn’t play well and we are better than what we showed as we have been playing well over the last few weeks. So it is time to move on and focus on Ross County. The boys have been excellent in training this week. I have been really pleased with how they’ve been.
“They were disappointed with the performance so I don’t need to keep telling them that but we have to move on as it is another big game for us this Saturday.
“Our home form has been good recently so hopefully we can continue that but it is another tough game. The league is so tight just now and we are looking to get a win to move up the table again.”
The Premiership is incredibly tight at the moment with only three points separating bottom placed Inverness and Killie in sixth.
Hartley admitted with so little between the sides, the psychological battles will be just as important as the physical ones.
He added: “The mental side of it always has a big part to play. It is a game at a time and we have a lot of big ones coming up.
“It is all about the next game for us but we have to be fully focused on it.
“Ross County are a point ahead of us but the games between us have always been good ones with lots of goals.
“I expect the same on Saturday. They put in a good performance against Hearts last week but we played well up there the first game of the season.
“We are at home and we want to continue the form we have shown at Dens over the last couple of games.”
Meanwhile Ross County midfielder Chris Burke will miss tomorrow’s trip to Dundee, with the former Scotland international continuing to toil with a viral infection.
Burke, 33, has been sidelined for County’s last two games due to the illness and has not played since the 4-2 win against St Johnstone on November 19 when he played despite suffering from a kidney complaint.