By Graeme Dey in Austria

COLIN MCMENAMIN last night hailed Dundee’s summer signing splurge—even though it threatens his prospects of getting a game.

McMenamin finished last term on a real high, grabbing a hat-trick in a final day demolition of Partick Thistle and bagging a new contract.

But two-and-a-half months on—following the arrival at Dens Park of front men Leigh Griffiths, Sean Higgins and Pat Clarke—he finds himself facing a scrap for a place.

Yet far from being concerned by that, McMenamin, relaxing in the splendour of the Dark Blues’ Austrian training base, revealed he welcomes the snapping up of that trio, believing as he does it leaves the club far better placed to push for the title than they were last season.

And he revealed it has also addressed an unhealthy situation which existed at Dens last term.

“It was getting a bit too easy for the strikers here last season,” confessed McMenamin.

“We only had three playing and it wasn’t hard getting in the team.

“However, the gaffer has brought in three quality—not ordinary but quality—strikers and all six of us know we’ll have to fight our hardest to get a start.

“The manager has the top scorer for four different clubs at his disposal now, so he has options and we have pressure—and that’s how it should be!”

McMenamin believes the signing of Gary Harkins and Richie Hart will also enhance the attacking threat posed by Dundee who last term had the second worst scoring record away from home in the entire first division.

“As a team we struggled for goals last season,” he said.

“Our defensive record was good thanks to some rocks at the back.

“But that needed to be built on which is why the gaffer has brought in the forwards and midfielders that he has.

“And it could be an exciting time for the club especially as he’s also signed non-strikers who can score.

“I remember near the end of last season the gaffer pointing out to us that 24 of the goals we’d scored had come from the boys up front and that the contribution from other areas of the team needed improving.

“Judging by that and the signings he’s made he’s intent on ensuring we’re capable of scoring from all areas—with defenders chipping in four or five each and midfielders making a contribution too.

“Like I say, it could be exciting. I certainly can’t wait to see what he does!”

One of the reasons Jocky Scott took his players away to Austria was to help with team bonding following the massive changes he’s made over the close season.

McMenamin reckons that decision and the choice of location for the training camp—despite the impact bad weather has had—was spot on though he revealed there was little need for introductions on the opening day of pre-season.

“It’s not been a major exercise getting the new guys bedded in at all,” he said.

“The lads who were here before know most of the boys from either having played with or against them.

“For example, I’ve known Brian Kerr for ten years since we were at Newcastle together.

“No-one who’s come in has been a stranger and that’s helped people settle in really quickly.

“It was left to the players to sort out the rooming arrangements and it’s very much been a mix-in between those who were already here and the lads who’ve just arrived.

“For instance Gary MacKenzie is sharing with Gary Harkins and I’m with Kerrsy. But all credit to the club for taking us here.

“This is a 100% better pre-season set-up than we had last year in Malta.

“It’s a pity that the weather’s been mixed but the hotel is first class and the training ground beautiful.

“It’s ideally suited to what you are looking for from pre-season.

“Last summer we trained on astroturf twice a day when we were in Malta and picked up a lot of muscle injuries.

“That led to a few guys missing the start of the season.

“But then we won our first three games without them so we can’t really advance that as an excuse for how things turned out!”