Fan Zhiyi helped build Chinese links

Fan had gone back to Shanghai Zhongyuan on loan to help his country's preparations for their first World Cup finals venture.

The 32-year-old was injured in China's opening defeat by Costa Rica and did not feature again in Korea and Japan.

Dundee had announced that Fan was being appointed official ambassador for themselves and his former club as they attempted to build on their new-found popularity in China.

But the defender insisted that there was a problem with his playing contract, despite being offered the same terms as he enjoyed before the World Cup.

He failed to turn up for a meeting last week with Dundee, who have now ended the payment of his wages.

Fan, who had already retired from international football, faces months out of the game unless he can find a club in England, where clubs are being allowed to sign players without clubs in controvention of the new transfer windows.

Meanwhile, midfielder Beto Carranza is now back in full training after recovering from the knee injury that has kept him out of the Dundee side since the opening pre-season game at Raith Rovers.

Zura Khizanishvilli is also said to be making good progress.

But the Georgian international defender is still a couple of weeks away from being considered for the first team after his nine months out with ruptured knee ligaments.