Dundee manager hopes for improvement

Dundee manager Jim Duffy believes his side will bounce back from their bad run and expects the return of his injured players to be the catalyst for a Dens Park revival.

The consequences of administration are biting hard on Duffy’s squad and they have now gone nine matches without a win in the Bank of Scotland Premier League and have picked up only two points from the last 15.

The Dundee boss, who turned down the chance of moving to Partick Thistle last month, still thinks he has a strong first XI when everyone is fully fit.

But he admits to having to make up the numbers with young players who are not yet ready for first-team action.

Gavin Rae’s new year transfer to Rangers has given Duffy another selection problem, but he is determined to remain upbeat and is eagerly awaiting the return of long-term absentees Steven Milne and Stevie Lovell.

The two strikers will help take the pressure off top scorer Nacho Novo, who has at times been the Dark Blues only recognised forward, and also give Duffy the opportunity to tinker with the rest of his line-up.

Dundee’s recent bad form is causing concern among the supporters, especially with Partick’s mini-revival.