| The Dark Blues feared his booking for leaving the pitch to celebrate his winner against St Johnstone had pushed him over the penalty points limit and earned a two-game ban, starting with the visit to the division leaders on Saturday week.
Word from the SFL, however, has confirmed the man who’s hit five goals since joining up at Dens in January remains a point short of a ban.
That means that, even if he picked up a booking against former club Livingston next midweek, the resulting ban would not kick in for another fortnight.
“It’s not news we expected, but it’s very welcome and, given the way he’s been playing, having him available for the Hamilton game is obviously a boost,” said boss Alex Rae.
Alex will still have to find a replacement for both McMenamin and his striker partner Mickael Antoine-Curier on Saturday because both are cup-tied and cannot face Queen of the South in the Scottish Cup quarter-final.
“I’m not saying who’ll come in for them and, to be honest, that’s because I have not decided myself. Even without these two, we have good options up front and there are a couple of ways I can go.”
Taking over in attack won’t be Derek Lyle. He has been ruled out of this tie and Tuesday’s game after falling through a glass table at home. That’s left him with 16 stitches in a gashed stomach, though he could be back running by the middle of next week.
The manager is still waiting to see if winger Gavin Swankie will be fit to return after a calf problem. His chances of being involved at Palmerston are no better than 50-50. |
