McGinn not getting carried away
Paul McGinn is in no danger of getting carried away by Dundee's stunning start to the season.
Paul Hartley's side showed they have the potential to build on last season's sixth-place finish on their return to the Ladbrokes Premiership when they thrashed Kilmarnock 4-0 at Rugby Park. But McGinn is sensible enough to realise that they have achieved nothing yet.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's visit of Hearts, the left-back said: "It was as good as you can ask for in the first game of the season. But it's still only three points. We would have taken a scrappy 1-0.
"People quickly forget a great first game if you don't pick up anything else.
"We can't get too ahead of ourselves. There is always that second season syndrome that a lot of teams have. First and foremost we have to get points on the table. Then come Christmas time you look at it and hopefully we can kick on and have a go for Europe but let's not get ahead of ourselves.
"In this game you are hero to villain in less time than it takes to talk in this interview."
Dundee defender James McPake returns from suspension but the game is likely to come too soon for Nicky Low as he attempts to shake off a foot injury. Kosta Gadzhalov (shoulder) is out along with Luka Tankulic, who missed the win at Kilmarnock with a training-ground knock.
Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson believes Scottish clubs are in a better position to repel cut-price offers for their best young players after Ipswich failed in a bid for Jordan McGhee.
Hearts rejected a reported B#250,000 offer for the 19-year-old defender this week and Neilson has warned no-one will leave the Ladbrokes Premiership newcomers on the cheap.
"Every player has a price. I don't want to sell him but if someone comes in with an acceptable value then we will look at it. But the offer that came in is nowhere near the value of a player of his calibre. We don't need to sell," he said.
"We have had a lot of cutbacks over the years but everyone is starting to get back on their feet again. When you get back on your feet you can start demanding money."
Nigeria left-back Juwon Oshaniwa will travel with the Hearts squad to Dundee but might not be ready to make his Ladbrokes Premiership debut.
Miguel Pallardo remains out with an Achilles problem but could return to training early next week, while forward Soufian El Hassnaoui is sidelined with a knee injury until November.
Source: PAR
