DUNDEE face a selection crisis for their Scottish Cup tie with Queen of the South this weekend after influential midfielder Scott Robertson was ruled out with a hamstring tear.
Robertson was carried off during the 3-2 win over St Johnstone and has been sent for a scan, which Dundee's medical staff expect to confirm he will need up to three weeks to recover.
That will rule him out of the quarter-final tie at Palmerston a
nd most likely the crucial title clash with First Division leaders Hamilton seven days later.
Dens Park manager Alex Rae was already having to shuffle his team for the trip to Dumfries because Kevin McDonald and Gary McKenzie are suspended, while new signings Mickael Antoine-Curier and Colin McMenamin are cup-tied.
Dundee will anxiously wait for news of Robertson's injury but Rae, who also has a doubt over Gavin Swankie, has already started planning for this weekend without him. "It's looking unlikely that Scott will make it because he appears to have done his hamstring. We're sending him for a scan and the length of his absence will depend on the grade of tear.
"It's a blow because he's a big player and provides a lot of energy to our midfield. That just adds to our selection problems, with McDonald and McKenzie being suspended, but we've known about that for a while so it just gives the other lads a chance to come in and do well."
Even though Dundee do not have their problems to seek, defender Paul Dixon remains confident they can secure a victory which would take him back to Hampden for a second time.
The 21-year-old was part of the Dundee team who lost in the semi-finals to Gretna two years ago and feels he has unfinished business at the national stadium. He said: "I played at Hampden the last time we were there against Gretna and that was a great experience so I'd love to get back there.
"Every boy's dream is to play at Hampden, so even though we lost it was still an amazing day. But we've got a really hard game at Palmerston to contend with first. They have good players all over the park and guys like Scott Dobbie and Jamie MacDonald are quality. Queens are on an amazing run in the league and if they had started better they'd be up there challenging for the title as well."
The full article contains 415 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
