Dundee captain James McPake on the comeback trail

Dundee captain James McPake's injury nightmare is coming to an end after almost two years out.

The defender suffered a horrific knee injury in the meeting with Dundee United in January 2016, but can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

McPake, 33, returned to the training field this week and manager Neil McCann has praised the attitude and commitment of the centre-back, but insists he will not rush him back any time soon.

“James has got no pressure on him whatsoever to come back,'' the Dee boss said ahead of his side's meeting with Kilmarnock.

“He will come back when he's ready.

“It's great for us to see him back on the training ground with his boots. So often when you've got big injuries you forget what it's like to be a footballer and you don't feel like a footballer anymore. It becomes a real battle of the mental state.

“To get a bit of freedom for him and (to be) back on the training field, where he is close to us and can hear us, it must be great for him and we're delighted for him, but in terms of his comeback, there's no time frames, no pressure.

“I said to James the other day in the gym that even though he's back in the gym now, if he wants a couple of days away from here, he takes them, and that is important at this stage of his rehab.”

McCann, whose side are struggling at the foot of the Ladbrokes Premiership and on a run of five successive losses, is full of admiration for the way McPake has handled the injury.

“I think James' spirit and his drive has never been in question. He had those qualities when he played.

“You have dark times as a footballer and I imagine you even contemplate retiring when you get these types of injuries and the duration of it, but he has always shown a strength.

“I told him it's important not to throw it away and get too deep in those thoughts, because every day you're a step closer to returning.''

Meanwhile the club has announced the departure of winger Danny Williams by mutual consent.

McCann added: “Danny was just extremely frustrated. I have to commend him so highly because his attitude was first class, he just didn't feature because I felt there were other boys ahead of him and he felt it was time to move on."