Kosta Gadzhalov could get the nod again for Dee

[News Bot]

The return of Darren O’Dea to the Dundee side does not necessarily mean Kosta Gadzhalov will be the man to make way in the starting XI at St Johnstone on Sunday.

Dee boss Paul Hartley was generally encouraged by the performance of his back three in last weekend’s 2-0 loss against Hearts at Tynecastle and also the part played in it by Gadzhalov.

Considering it was his first start of the campaign, the 27-year-old put in an assured performance and will have given the manager food for thought ahead of the trip to Perth.

That could see a reshuffle at the back with Kevin Holt moving to a wing-back slot and Gadzhalov retaining his position in the back three beside O’Dea and Kevin Gomis.

Whatever way he decides to go, Paul will have no fears about putting the Bulgarian in once again.

He said: “Kosta has had a couple of niggles from the start of the season.

“It was good he came in and did well but I thought all the back three were good on Saturday.

“In fact, I don’t think we had a failure in the team against Hearts.”

The man at the helm also said he will continue to work hard with strikers Yordi Teijsse and Faissal El Bakhtaoui in the hope they can turn their workrate into goals.

“I thought the two strikers were a handful last Saturday against Hearts,” said Paul.

“They are two young lads, one who was an amateur in Holland and the other has come from the Scottish League One.

“El Bakhtaoui is a work in progress and will get better. They’re what we have just now and we will keep working with them.

“We will keep believing in them and things will turn.”

Meanwhile, St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright reckons Dundee’s big travelling support can boost his own team’s chances of victory on Sunday.

He said: “Dundee will bring a big support and that helps us because we want more atmosphere at home. Ultimately that helps the players because our fans respond to that.”

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