Klimpl had been willing to try to play on and have the op. at the beginning of the week of next month’s Challenge Cup Final, because that would effectively give him three weeks when there was no league game in which to recover.

However, having been forced off last Saturday against Raith Rovers and then missing the Co-Op Cup clash with Rangers on Tuesday, that plan was thrown into doubt.

And, this afternoon, Jocky confirmed the date with the surgeon had now been brought forward.

“Maros did some work with the physio and, with just a bit of running, he was feeling pain again,” said Jocky.

“He felt severe pain on Saturday and he isn’t soft, so you know when he says something is sore he’s got a problem.

“That is why I’ve decided to get him operated on tomorrow — he was still willing to play at the weekend.”

A visit to a specialist produced the opinion the problem was relatively minor and Dundee are hopeful Klimpl’s absence will be measured in weeks rather than months.

“Since he arrived here, he’s shown he’s a good player, so we don’t want him out for any longer than is necessary.

“That’s another reason why I don’t want him playing on with an injury that could get worse and we’ve also now got all our other midfielders back fit, so it’s the right time to get him sorted.”

Jocky conceded the performance against Rangers on Tuesday night has further convinced him that, as influential as Klimpl has been, his absence can be adequately covered.

“We’ve a few out injured, but, if the team keep playing like that, I believe the quality is there to keep winning games.”

One of those already on the sidelines, goalie Rab Douglas, is in line to return from his torn calf muscle in the friendly derby at Dundee United in just under a fortnight.

“Rab’s coming on in training and he’s been back with the rest of the boys for a few days now. I’m confident he will be ready for Tannadice,” added Jocky.

Just last week, though, his gaffer revealed a speedy recovery had put him on course for a place at Kilmarnock on Saturday week.

By yesterday morning, continued lightning progress even had thoughts of a place this weekend entering Craig’s head. Today, though, he stepped back from that.

“If you had asked me that question before training yesterday I would have said he was 75% certain to be involved against Rangers, but now it is more like 25%,” he said.

“He is still coming on very well, but he pulled up yesterday because he felt his knee a bit and that tells me we should probably leave him another week.

“I’m confident he will be ready for Kilmarnock, but, if I play him before he is ready, we might end with him out for a long period again and we don’t want that.”

Just like knee-injury victim Maros Klimpl over the road at Dundee, Craig knows that if he asks Dixon to play on Sunday he will, and will, therefore, make the decision on his fitness himself.

Craig is hopeful of getting Jennison Myrie-Williams fit in time to be involved. He showed up well against Aberdeen last Saturday, but missed the Co-Op Cup defeat at St Johnstone because of a knock on the knee he took at Pittodrie.

Goalie Nicky Weaver also remains a doubt after missing the Perth trip with a thigh strain. The manager is checking up on another couple of knocks that were picked up at McDiarmid Park, but there is nothing that’s causing too much concern.

Meanwhile, it’s believed Saints midfielder Paul Sheerin is among the candidates for the vacant managerial post at Arbroath.