Dundee manager Steven Pressley has challenged his players to secure a feel-good derby win after the “devastating” news of Simon Murray’s injury.
The club captain faces a battle to play again this season after damaging a cruciate ligament at Aberdeen last weekend. Pressley felt he and his players were affected by the first-half blow, and they went on to concede three goals and exit the Premier Sports Cup.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s William Hill Premiership encounter against Dundee United at Tannadice, Pressley said: “For everybody connected with our football club and, I think, the football family, it’s really devastating news.
"He’s such a personality, such a character, such an influence around the place. Typical Simon, he’s been very positive in his thinking, and he’s already planning his comeback.
“He’ll be really missed. Last year, as he spoke about publicly, he was carrying a little bit of an injury, and we didn’t see the true Simon Murray. In the League Cup and then the opening three fixtures of the season, we were beginning to see the real Simon Murray and that’s the disappointing aspect.
“But you have to also look beyond the football player. It’s a difficult period for his family. There’s a lot of stress around these situations.
"He’s not a 21-year-old; he’s a 34-year-old, and his family will be concerned about his future, of course, so there are so many things you have to consider. We have to support him, and we have to help him through this.
"If there’s one man that can come back from this, and I mean that, it’s Simon Murray.”
Pressley added: “I do think that sometimes, with the impact that Simon’s had, even from my own performance, I felt myself affected by it.
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“At half-time, it was very emotional when we saw him. We lost a little bit of focus, and it was difficult because he’s such a key member, and it’s not just the player, it’s the person. And I think it did have an adverse effect on everybody.
“But we can regain that focus this weekend and hopefully bring our personality to the game. There’s an opportunity to bring exceptional momentum and real energy and a real feel-good factor to the club.
“We are all very much aware of just how important the derby is to everybody connected with our club.”
Dundee signed former Kilmarnock striker Bobby Wales on loan from Swansea this week, and they remain active in the transfer market. “With the injury to Simon, we’re going to have to bring in another striker,” Pressley said.
“And of course, as I’ve said for a long period, we’re trying to find the solutions around the centre defensive position. We still need to bring in two defenders.
“The recruitment team, I cannot emphasise just how hard they’re all working just now. But it’s really, really difficult and really challenging to find the right players.
"We just can’t get the ones in that we feel will add that value.”
