Dundee handed Scott Fraser injury boost as Tony Docherty eyes up Hearts redemption in Scottish Cup clash

The midfielder has been out of action since October with a serious groin issue

Dundee boss Tony Docherty has confirmed Scott Fraser is back in full training.

The playmaker has been out since October with a groin issue. Docherty haș admitted the 29-year-old is now back with his team. He is unlikely to be ready for Friday’s Scottish Cup clash but could come back in for next weekend’s derby. Docherty confirmed: “We have been buoyed with the fact Scott Fraser was on the training pitch today. The game might come too early for him but it is just great to have another experienced one back. Unfortunately, we still have Billy Koumetio, Antonio Portales, Clark Robertson and Seb Palmer-Houlden not available but huge encouragement with getting Scott back.”

Dundee also go into their Scottish Cup clash without the suspended Lyall Cameron. Docherty knows his side will be looking for redemption when they head to Tynecastle after the Jambos beat them 6-0 at Dens Park in the league last month. He admitted: “I think there is an added motivation. As professionals, we all take a pride.

“When your pride is dented, I suppose you want to do something about it. There is possibly a redemption to show that was a day we didn’t enjoy. We want to show the best version of ourselves and we have an opportunity to do that in a cup competition.

“Any motivation you can use to get the players to put in a level of performance they will. They are also individually motivated and I am sure if you ask them they will all tell you we will be doing everything we can do to get into the next round.”

Hearts go in as favourites and Docherty thinks that can benefit his team. He admitted: “I think you can say that after recent matches we are not going in as favourites. That can take a bit of pressure off the players.

“There is no way it will affect the performance levels but psychologically it might help in that way. We will be doing all we can.

“It is a brilliant night, Friday night under the lights. We have taken all our allocation.

“With their backing and what I see in our group, we see it as an opportunity to get to the semi-final for the first time in 19 years. Hopefully we can make that happen.”