Julen Etxabeguren injury part and parcel of football – Dundee boss Paul Hartley

The central defender ruptured his Achilles during last Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Partick Thistle.

Published 10th Mar 2017

Dundee manager Paul Hartley has backed Julen Etxabeguren to bounce back from his serious injury blow.

The central defender ruptured his Achilles during last Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Partick Thistle.

Hartley, whose side have a Tayside derby against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Saturday, said: "He went through his operation so you are talking about the best part of six months.

"It's a blow to the team and the lad himself but he's a strong character and he will get all the support and medical advice here.

"It's a tough one for him, it was a challenge where he landed on his Achilles.

"He was finding a bit of form, he was playing well and had a good solid partnership with Darren (O'Dea) but that's part and parcel of football sometimes, you have got to put up with these things.''