Dundee boss Paul Hartley to make late call on Paul McGowan fitness
Dundee boss Paul Hartley will leave it late to decide if midfielder Paul McGowan can feature against Hamilton in the Ladbrokes Premiership on Friday night after being struck down by illness this week.
McGowan is also struggling with a tight hamstring but striker Craig Wighton (knee) and on-loan Celtic midfeilder Michael Duffy (thigh) are definitely ruled out for the visit of Accies to Dens Park.
Nicky Low is short of fitness following an ankle problem while long-term absentee James McPake (knee) is still out.
Hartley has challenged his fringe players to stake a claim for the spots Kane Hemmings and Greg Stewart's moves south have left behind.
"We need to forget Stewart and Hemmings," said the Taysiders' boss. "It's up to the other players to step up and perform.
"We have some good players here and we want to add to the group, so it is up to the guys coming in to show us what they have got.
"We're just looking to find that consistency. I felt we were disappointing in the first half against Rangers. It was nothing to do with the lads moving on, we just didn't do our jobs properly.
"But the second half was good, just like the game at Ross County.
"These home games are important for us, it's vital to get three points."
Hamilton player/manager Martin Canning believes Dundee are no less dangerous a proposition without their dynamic duo.
He said: "They are a good unit and they have brought in good players as well.
"Obviously if you lose two quality players who have been a big source of goals and creativity for them, it will impact your team but I have no doubt that the players, more than anything, will be desperate to prove that they are not a two-man team, that they are still a good team.
"We lost 4-0 up there last season when Hemmings caused us problems and we won 1-0 up there towards the end of the season, so it has been mixed.
"For us, it is about going up there focused and ready to go to try to win the game."
Scott McMann trained this week following a knee injury and should be back in contention for Hamilton, Gramoz Kurtaj also trained after recovering from a knee problem and will be assessed while Danny Redmond is on his way back from tendinitis.
Canning (cheekbone), Jesus Garcia Tena (knee), Craig Watson (cruciate) and Jordan McGregor (ankle) are still out while Antons Kurakins has been told he can find another club.
Source: PAR
