By Ian Roache

DUNDEE UNITED new boy Warren Feeney has revealed how he turned down offers from clubs in the English leagues because he believes being in the SPL will boost his international chances.

The 24-times capped Northern Irish striker can boast about being part of the last team to beat newly-crowned European champions Spain.

That was back in the autumn of 2006 when a David Healy hat-trick secured a 3-2 victory on an emotional night at Windsor Park in a Euro 2008 qualifying group game—one of the province’s finest ever results.

And he believes his hunger to stay fully involved with Northern Ireland can best be fed by starring for the Tangerines in Scotland’s top flight.

The 27-year-old frontman, who has signed a one-year loan deal from Cardiff City despite being courted by the likes of Leicester City and Swansea, said, “I had four or five clubs down south who had said they wanted me but I really fancied a crack at it up here.

“This league has some really big clubs and a lot of exposure on TV and in the media so coming here is the right move for me.

“As soon as I heard about the chance to come to the SPL it was a no-brainer, although I did ask around to get opinions about the club and the manager.

“They all came back positive.

“Also, Scotland are ranked 14 in the world these days so the game here is getting stronger all the time.

“I want to play for my country as often as possible and moving here can make that happen.”

Feeney will soon be reunited with some of the Spanish stars that finished on the losing side in Belfast when Barcelona visit Tannadice on July 26.

However Feeney joked that the famous win passed him by a bit.

“I came on as a sub against Spain but to be honest I can’t remember too much about it because I was chasing the ball so much,” he said.

“I doubt they will remember me because I was the guy with the red face doing a lot of running.

“Seriously though, it was amazing to be part of a team that beat Spain when you see what they have gone on to achieve.

“I actually said at the start of Euro 2008 that I thought it would be Spain and Germany in the final so I wish I had put a bet on.”

Feeney’s style has been likened to that of Rangers frontman Jean-Claude Darcheville by a family member and fellow footballer.

Lee Feeney, once on the books at Ibrox, said, “The biggest compliment I could pay my little cousin is that he is very similar to Darcheville in the way he plays.

“He is fast, strong and loves to run at defenders the same way Darcheville does.

“Warren is really the kind of player team-mates appreciate playing alongside for the amount of work he puts in over the 90 minutes and his commitment to the cause.

“When you put all these attributes together it makes him the sort of striker that SPL defenders won’t relish playing against.”

United boss Craig Levein, who has 23-year-old Spaniard Francesco Sandaza on trial from Valencia, believes signing Feeney is a major piece of business.

“I have seen Warren play plenty of times throughout his career so I know the qualities he will bring to the team,” said Levein, who watched the new recruit and the rest of the squad get down to pre-season training at St Andrews yesterday.

“He was unlucky at Cardiff because they brought in some big hitters like Robbie Fowler and Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink so he has not played as much as he would have liked.

“There were a load of other clubs desperate to sign him but Warren really wanted to join us and I have been impressed by the hunger he has shown.

“He is an experienced international player and once again I would like to thank Cardiff.

“They have let us take Willo Flood on loan and now Warren so (manager) Dave Jones and (chief executive) Peter Ridsdale have been really helpful.

“The fans love Willo for his all-action style and I am sure they are going to think the same about Warren. Signing him really is a bit of a coup for us.”