James McPake speaks on Sean Mackie's Dundee derby display and return to Hibs

James McPake believes the performance of on-loan Hibs defender Sean Mackie in last month's Dundee derby against rivals Dundee United will help him hit the ground running when he returns to Easter Road in the summer.

The Dundee boss knows all about expectations at the Capital club, having spent two-and-a-half seasons with the club in the early 2010s as captain and believes the former Raith Rovers kid is well equipped to make an impact once his season-long loan spell on Tayside is up.

Mackie, who has made 12 appearances for the Dark Blues and registered one assist, impressed as the Dens Park side held the Championship league-leaders to a 1-1 draw last month. He has played the full 90 minutes in both of Dundee's last two matches in left midfield, with Jordan Marshall starting at left-back. The 21-year-old has been deployed in both defence and midfield for Hibs.

McPake said: "Jack [Ross] will know all about Sean, but if he watched the derby he would have been pleased.

"Sean is getting games in a similar environment to Hibs in terms of there are two teams in the one city, there is a big rivalry and games are live on TV.

"They have high hopes for him."

Mackie has made 15 appearances for Hibs, laying on two goals for his team-mates, but last played for the Easter Road side in their 6-1 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox in August, in which he was sent off for two bookable offences. He has had loan spells at Berwick Rangers and Edinburgh City.