Dundee news latest as Joe Shaughnessy suffers knee injury woe but good vibes still flow before Celtic clash

Dundee will have to go into their final European push without captain Joe Shaughnessy.

The skipper suffered a significant knee injury in last week’s draw with Rangers. Manager Tony Docherty has already written Shaughnessy off for the season and will find out later this week how long-term the injury is going to be. It is a blow to Dundee as they kick-off their top six campaign against Celtic on Sunday.

Docherty confirmed: “He is not great at all. He has what looks like a significant knee injury. “How long-term we don’t really know yet, but he definitely won’t play again this season. Joe is set to see the specialist at the end of the week and we will have a clearer idea of how long he is going to be out then. He came in on Tuesday to see our doctor and the boys. He is gutted, as you would expect. It looked like such an innocuous challenge. It is a blow for Joe and ourselves. Joe is our captain and has played every minute. We are all gutted for him.”

Docherty haș stated that Dundee will be with Shaughnessy all the way, as he has gone from the high of leading the new boys into the top six last week to the low of his season being prematurely ended this week.

The Dundee manager claimed: “Joe is a brilliant big boy. “He is a bit philosophical about it. “He said this time last week he captained the team into the top six and then a nothing challenge in the Rangers game which has now ended his season. “He has never had an injury like that but Joe is a really strong boy. “He has a strong mentality and he will be fine. “He will also get full support from the club in his recovery. “We will be with him every step of the way. “He will be fine.”

Shaughnessy might not have the armband on the pitch for the final five games but Docherty knows he will still be leading them off the park and will be a big influence within their dressing room.

His boss confirmed: “Absolutely, Joe will still have a massive part to play for us in our dressing room even though he won’t be playing. “He is a huge part of our team. “He is a brilliant big lad. “He was my first signing and I knew what I was getting when we took him to the club. “He leads by example everyday and that will remain the case, I know that. “He might be injured but he will still have a huge role to play over the remaining five games with his leadership qualities. “He has been so so important to me and the players. “We will have to move on but whatever happens I know Joe will fight back and come back even stronger because that is the type of person he is.”

The Dundee players were given some additional time off last week so they could recharge and get ready for the final European push. The confirmation that it is a Rangers versus Celtic Scottish Cup final means that fifth place in the league will now bring a European spot. Dundee are just two points behind St Mirren who currently occupy that position but Docherty is refusing to get involved in European talk at this point. It is one game at a time that starts with Celtic, will then see St Mirren, Hearts and Rangers before they sign off against Kilmarnock.

Docherty stated: “There is a really good feel about the place. ‘We gave them a bit of time off and we had a bit of social time together before they came back in on Monday. “We will train our normal week and take Thursday off and then train Friday and Saturday to get ready for Sunday. “The boys are in a brilliant place."