Dundee boss backed his striker Osman Sow for being on his best form

This wasn't a surprise to anyone who applauded the Swedish during his year and a half at Tynecastle, where he played good enough to acquire a seven-digit transfer to Chinese club Henan Jianye regardless of there being just a half year left on his agreement. 

In any case, football has been less kind to the 30-year-old since his Gorgie exit. Since getting back to English football in the mid-year of 2017, Sow generally battled with both goal scoring and fitness issues. Before his new stint in the Dee, he had spells with MK Dons, Dundee United, and Kilmarnock. 

In the wake of finishing a long fruitless spell of scoring goals in the 3-3 draw with

Dunfermline

in mid-December, Osman's coach is edgy to see him continue that breakthrough.

McPake

told the Dundee Evening Telegraph:

"He's been really good in terms of fitness since he's been here, that'll maybe surprise people given his history. But we've got him to a level where his conditioning and his fitness stats are right up there among the best in the squad.

"He's in a very good place fitness-wise and probably as fit as he has been for years. You can see that in games and in training.

"It really is a credit to him and he is enjoying his football. Os is a really good character to have around the place. Since the day he walked in the door he's been fantastic.

"To begin with it was about getting him to 45 minutes, then to 60 and to 90 – against Bonnyrigg Rose in the cup he managed 120. Mentally for him, I'm sure that would have ticked a box in his head.

"He's one of the hardest working players in our squad and he's looking like the Osman Sow that did so well for Hearts. Touch wood he can keep that up."

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