Colin's still got plenty in reserve.

Byline: By Euan McArthur

COLIN CAMERON last night revealed that running out at crumbling Gayfield meant just as much to him as starring for Scotland.

The former Hearts and Wolves midfielder made his long-awaited comeback on the icy Angus coast for Arbroath in their reserve clash with Dunfermline on Monday night.

Cameron, who's on loan at Gayfield as he completes his recovery from knee surgery, braved the winter weather with Dundee boss Jocky Scott in the stand to see the 36-year-old edge closer to his Dens Park debut.

He may have graced some of the top venues north and south of the border in an illustrious career but Cameron wasn't going to treat Monday's comeback game with anything less than total conviction.

He said: "It's been quite a while since I last played at Gayfield. In fact, you'd probably need to go through the history books to find out exactly when.

"But the surroundings don't bother me in the slightest. I am not a guy who carries any airs or graces. I don't see it as a step down. I see it rather as a step in the right direction to getting fit again.

"Once you go out there and cross that white line you could be anywhere. I approach every game the same - wanting to win - so the other night I treated it just like I would have a Scotland match.

"It doesn't always work out the way you want but I give absolutely everything in every game.

All I'm thinking about now is getting enough games under my belt so I can help Dundee get promoted."

Cameron has yet to kick a competitive ball since signing for Dundee from MK Dons in the summer so he's felt the pain personally. But he's convinced sweating it out on his own over the past few weeks will ensure he shows the supporters what they've been missing.

He said: "I'm as frustrated as anybody. I came here hoping to play a big part for Dundee and it hasn't happened up until now. The fans are frustrated as well which I can understand but not any more so than myself.

"The club belongs in the SPL and I plan to help them get back where they belong. Anybody here will tell you how hard I've been working to make that possible.

"I work my backside off every day in training.

I'm normally the last person out of the ground at night. I'm in the gym when the rest have finished for the day and I've been sweating it out doing double sessions.

"My overall fitness is fine but there's a difference between that and match fitness.

That's what I'm building up for and when I come back at the start of February I'll have built up confidence in my knee and be raring to go."

Cameron jumped at the chance of a loan spell in the lower leagues and insists the age barrier won't prevent him from hitting it off at Dens.

He said: "Big Jim Lauchlan suggested I look at the prospect of going out on loan and then I spoke to the manager about it.

"There was no chance of me getting a game in the reserves here for at least another two weeks as the young lads are abroad so it was a good idea to go to Arbroath.

"I'm 36 now but that's not an issue. I think nowadays players tend to look after themselves much better than before because they know that way they can prolong their careers.

"Just look at Davie Weir whom I played with at Hearts. He's a terrific example."

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FIGHTING TO BE FIT: Colin Cameron