'Real buzz' about Dundee as injured players return

Dundee boss Tony Docherty says there's "a real buzz" about the club as players return to full fitness.

Docherty welcomed five players back into full training this week having been down to the bare bones of his squad.

Now, the Dundee boss is relishing the "healthy competition" between players which he hopes will be an extra benefit for the remaining games of the season.

He's also added the expertise of Victor Lopez, Imari Samuels, Cesar Garcia and Sean Kelly in the January window.

"I'm delighted that this week's training really went up a notch because, as well as the four additions we brought in, all the injuries (outwith Scott Fraser and Billy Koumetio have returned)," he said.

"So this week's first time, I've had a 11 v 11 all season.

"It's really, really healthy competition and at a pivotal stage of the season, you know, we're still in a cup competition and there's 10 games to the split.

"It's brilliant, it's almost like new signings, getting Joe Shaughnessy, Ziyad Larkeche, Jordan McGhee, Antonio Portales, Charlie Reilly all back in the training ground.

"So there's a real buzz about the place and there's a real strength to the squad. But I would stress that, you know, any success we're going to get, I said the same thing last year, it's down to healthy competition.

"And I think that's what we've got now. There's real competition for places, but there's healthy competition because everybody is on the same page and everybody's got the same agenda.

"But I've got to give huge credit to, when we were really threadbare and we were maybe only 12, 13 training at a time, these players came through that and they came through it with flying colours.

"So put that all together in the mix and you've got a strong squad that are definitely, you know, vying for places and there's a real competition about it."