FAMILY MAN Fabian Caballero last night revealed how the love of those closest to him has helped restart his career, writes Ian Roache.

Before signing on as a Dundee player for the second time yesterday, the Argentinian striker had been out of work after being made redundant by the Dark Blues last November following the club’s fall into administration.

The long months in between saw him sign on the dole then travel across country and continent to seek out a new employer.

He has finally found that work back at Dens Park, albeit on a vastly-reduced salary, and Caballero thanked his wife Tiana and daughter Tahira for keeping his spirits up.

Indeed, if he makes an appearance today for the Dark Blues at Pittodrie—he is likely to start the game on the bench—he will be wearing the name T Caballero and the number 26 in honour of his child, who was born on February 26 of this year.

“I am very happy to be back and looking forward to the rest of the season,” said the Argentinian, who has signed on until the end of the campaign.

“This is all about looking forward and working hard for me and my family.”

Caballero also highlighted the role played by manager Jim Duffy in persuading him to give the Dark Blues another shot.

“Jim has a strong personality and he has done a lot for me. He was on the phone a lot and was the one who fixed this up.”

Duffy was, of course, delighted to finally getting the deal done after a last-minute delay prevented it going through as expected on Thursday.

“It is great as a manager to get a top-class player to add to your squad, particularly outwith the transfer window,” he said.

“Fabian is someone who can help lift the quality of the team and give the supporters a lift as well.”

And Caballero’s focus on his family came through loud and clear to Duffy, who added, “His priorities are his wife and baby and I am more than happy about that.

“He maybe keeps himself to himself but he expresses himself on the football pitch and that is what is important.”

Given past concerns over Caballero’s weight, Duffy has been pleasantly surprised by the player’s level of fitness.

“I know he is maybe not ready to start a match but he has been training with us all week and looks OK,” added the Dens boss.

“I would rather have 20 minutes from Fabian than not have anything and he is a great option to have, even if he does start on the bench.

“He has ability in abundance, although it may take a bit of time for him to hit his peak as he needs to get used to the players around him.

“He isn’t just a piece of the jigsaw that you can slot right back in as he needs to get to know guys like John Sutton, Glenn Larsen and Iain Anderson, who weren’t here during his first spell.”

Anderson and company may not yet be well acquainted with the Argentinian, but they are aware Dundee have just made a fine addition to their pool.

“I had not met him until he showed up for training but I know the fans like him and I am sure this is a good bit of business by the manager,” said Anderson.

Meanwhile, Aberdeen boss Jimmy Calderwood has revealed that Caballero would have been playing for the Dons instead of Dundee if his representatives had been easier to deal with.

He is a huge admirer of the Argentinian and tried to sign him during the summer but got fed up with the wrangling.

Instead he switched his attentions to Caballero’s fellow countryman Fernando Pasquinelli when the player’s advisers suddenly increased the demanded signing-on fee.

“We spoke of moving for him before Fernando Pasquinelli arrived at Aberdeen but there was a problem when it came to ascertaining exactly who his agent was,” said Calderwood. “The goalposts kept being moved all the time and I eventually told Aberdeen just to drop it.

“He is a good player and the sort I would love to have taken to Pittodrie but there was too much hassle around him.

“He is a player I have always admired, though, and even although he hasn’t played for a while he will be a threat to any defence.”

Calderwood continued his forward planning by agreeing new deals with John Stewart and Chris Clark that will keep them at the club until at least the summer of 2007.

Both miss this game through injury, with Clark needing a scan to detect the source of a back problem that will keep him sidelined for the foreseeable future.

Noel Whelan and Zander Diamond are also still out, but Markus Heikkinen will be back from the start after fully recovering from a mystery virus. Steven Craig also returns.

Dundee striker Steve Lovell will return after serving a suspension against Rangers last Sunday.

Neil Jablonski could play with a plaster cast on his broken wrist if referee Mike McCurry allows, while Steven Robb is available again following his hamstring trouble.