Dundee boss Tony Docherty on why he would he have no qualms about throwing Luke Graham into the derby

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Tony Docherty would have no qualms about throwing returning Luke Graham straight into the red-hot heat of another Dundee derby.The defender, who played in the 2-2 Premiership derby opener at Tannadice, has just been recalled from a successful spell with Championship table-toppers Falkirk.The 20-year-old’s comeback comes at the perfect time with Docherty having central defenders Antonio Portales, Clark Robertson and Joe Shaughnessy out and major doubts over Billy Koumetio and Jordan McGhee.Docherty, who is also set to extend Oluwaseun Adewumi’s loan from Burnley for the season, admitted: “We've monitored Luke throughout his loan period.

He's been fantastic, absolutely brilliant. And again, we are indebted to the job John McGlynn has done with Falkirk.“I think it's a perfect example of a really good loan.“He's gone out and gained all that experience playing in games with a team at the top of the league.“He's been a massive part of that team being top of the Championship.“So he's certainly in a good position and we're really, really pleased with his development.“Him going out and doing that has put himself in a much stronger position as a Dundee player.“He’s come back with more experience as well.

That's important to me.”Docherty reckons his squad go into the derby on a major high after their win at St Mirren last time out.

He knows it is a special game.“The first derby was brilliant,” the Dundee boss claimed.“It just creates so much excitement in the city.“And the fact the game is live on Sky, hopefully it is a good advert for the Dundee derby, like the last one was.“I thought it was a brilliant spectacle.“The fans all get involved and just the whole history of the fixture with the teams walking up the road.