Davies edging towards first-team involvement

Dundee boss Jim McIntyre is hoping Andrew Davies will soon start reaping rewards after “hammering” himself in the gym and on the training pitch, writes Neil Robertson.

The 34-year-old joined the Dark Blues in the January window but broke his foot just two days later in a bounce game with St Johnstone.

It was a bitter blow for the former Middlesbrough, Southampton and Ross County defender as well as the Dens boss, with Davies having to undergo surgery to repair the damaged metatarsal.

Now, though, there is finally some light at the end of the tunnel with the experienced centre-half edging closer to being involved with the first team.

The manager said: “He’s been fine, he’s done a few days’ training and we’ll see how he is. It’s great to have him back and it’s a case of trying to get him fit.

“He’s been out for a while so it’s important we try to give him a bit of time.

“I know we haven’t got a lot of time so we’ll just monitor that day by day.

“Without a doubt we want him involved as quickly as we possibly can. We have 10 days after the Celtic game and you’d like to think he’ll be a lot further on, if not up to speed with match fitness.”

McIntyre added: “He’s hammered himself to get back as quickly as possible.

“I think Andrew felt he had let people down, having just signed for the club and then breaking his foot, but nothing could be further from the truth.

“Injuries are part and parcel of the game and sometimes you are just unlucky. He has been extremely unlucky to come to us and pick up his injury 30 minutes into a bounce game.

“He’s been at every game, supporting the lads and making sure he’s in the dressing-room and getting right behind the boys – there’s not really much more he can do until we get him back out there.”

Picture: SNS.