“Graham will come in for a few days and it gives us the chance to have a good look at him,” said Alan, who is eagerly looking forward to his first game in charge when Airdrie United come calling on Saturday.

“I can’t wait to get going and I think the players feel the same.

“Obviously, there’s an edge to the game because I’m a new manager here, but the lads have all been responding very well at training.”

Alan only played a couple of times as a player at Dens, but his record wasn’t too bad, and he’s hoping that will continue now as boss of the Dark Blues.

“I won here while I was a player with St Johnstone and, more recently, drew while playing for Livingston,” he added.

Meanwhile, two Dundee youngsters, Kevin MacDonald and Craig O’Reilly, are in the Scotland Under-19 squad for a friendly double-header at Firhill against their Danish counterparts played tonight and Thursday.

Coaches Archie Gemmill and Tommy Wilson will use the games to select a squad for next month’s UEFA qualifiers.

“Barry will be in a bit of discomfort for a wee while, but the positive news is that there is no bone damage, which sets both ours and the player’s minds at ease,” said boss Gordon Chisholm.

“It may be the case that we’ll need to nurse him for a bit and we’ll have to take on board his pain threshold, but at least there is no sign of any fracture.”

The Tangerines reserve side turned in a good performance in beating Motherwell 1-0 at Forfar’s Station Park yesterday.

David Goodwillie added to his growing reputation by bagging an excellent goal, although the manager stressed fans shouldn’t expect too much too soon.

“There is no doubt David is a player of great potential, but we have to be careful with him and we are in no rush to push him on.”

Meanwhile, Saints are set to offer a deal to former Dundee United central defender Scott Paterson, who has been training with the club.

But he’s feeling unwell at the moment and, if he doesn’t make it to Perth to secure the deal today, Saints are hoping he’ll be able to make it tomorrow.

The Perth club are hoping Jason Scotland comes through Trinidad and Tobago’s World Cup qualifying tie away to Costa Rica tonight unscathed.

Immediately after that game, he’ll head back to Trinidad before catching a flight tomorrow home to Scotland in the company of Dundee keeper Kelvin Jack and Falkirk midfield man Russell Latapy.