The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Striker doubts leave Hartley’s plans for Dons up in the air
Haber and Ojamaa have Dens boss considering his options for Dens clash
Doubts over international duo Marcus Haber and Henrik Ojamaa have forced Paul Hartley to come up with several permutations for his starting line-up against Aberdeen tomorrow night.
The Canadian targetman has yet to train after injuring his knee against Celtic before the break, making him “50-50” for the visit of the second-placed Dons.
Ojamaa has come through his trip with Estonia unscathed but will only get back from his travels across Europe in time for a single training session today.
And Hartley admitted his plans are up in the air.
“Marcus is touch and go,” he reported. “He hasn’t trained. We’ll see how he is tomorrow. I’d say he’s 50-50 at this moment in time.
“He’s not done anything since the Celtic game. It’s just been treatment and rest.
“It’s an awkward one. It would be a massive risk to throw him in if we weren’t sure. We could maybe have him out for four or five weeks.
“He’s been such an important player for us and we don’t have a like for like replacement. But, if he misses one game then so be it.”
Hartley added: “Ojamaa doesn’t report back until tomorrow. He’s been on international duty. He’s fine but we have to consider that he played at the weekend and he’s had to travel. He won’t have done any work with us until tomorrow. He’s another one we’ll have to assess.
“Craig (Wighton) has been away with the Scotland under-21s as well. We’ve not been working with a lot of numbers over the last week or so.
“I’ve got three or four teams in my head. The personnel available will dictate the side. We’ve got to prepare for Marcus being OK and not OK and the same with Ojamaa. We’re OK as a back four and in midfield but up front is the real concern for us.”
Julen Etxabeguren is out for six months, while fellow centre-back Kostadin Gadzhalov is also sidelined.
“He’s out for three or four weeks with a bad calf injury,” Hartley said. “We’ve got two fit centre-halves just now.”
The doubts over Haber and Ojamaa are far from ideal for Hartley but the recent form of Faissal El Bakhtaoui has been heartening.
“He got his goal against Celtic and scored a couple in the testimonial match at Forfar,” said the Dundee boss.
“He’s looked really sharp. It has taken him a period of time to settle. We always knew that would be the case. He was making a big jump up but he’s getting to grips with it.
“We’ve had him on a strength programme for the last three months.
“He’s been in every morning to work on that. It was a side of his game he needed to look at.
“He’s had to learn the tactical side as well. At Dunfermline he was a bit of a free spirit but it’s not the same here because of the work off the ball you have to do.
“I think he’s going to be an excellent signing for us. I really do. He’s got such great quality, touch and is really sharp. It’s about bringing everything together.”
Following up a game against Celtic with an Aberdeen fixture is as tough as it gets in Scottish football.
“They’re an outstanding team and they’ve got so many match-winners,” Hartley said of the Pittodrie side.
“There’s real pace in the side, especially in the final third. Hayes, McGinn, Pawlett and McLean are all hitting real form. We know we’re facing an excellent team on a great run.
“We’ve done OK against them in the past. Most of the matches have been tight affairs and we’ve usually given them a good game.
“I think they’ve got the quality and mentality to finish second. Their key games will probably be against Rangers. On their current form though, you wouldn’t bet against them.
“Our performances have been decent on the whole against the likes of Hearts, Rangers and Celtic, as well as Aberdeen, to an extent.
“We’re in front of the cameras again and it should be a good game. We both need the points for different reasons.
“I would still say that we need three wins if we’re to have a chance of the top six. But there are six managers thinking they need a couple of victories to push away from the bottom as well.”