It’s so far, so good for Dundee but signings must go on

As has always been the case in football, when it comes to Dundee’s summer signings the proof of the pudding will be in the eating.

It terms of potential, however, it looks to be a case of so far, so good, as Neil McCann has shuffled his pack in the hope of strengthening his squad for the 2017/18 campaign.

The new manager has taken a gamble in handing midfielder Scott Allan the chance to get his career back on track via a year-long loan from Celtic.

At 25 there is no doubt the former Dundee United kid needs to start fulfilling his potential, and over a prolonged period.

Given Allan’s undoubted talent, though, it’s surely one worth taking and his presence should considerably increase the team’s creative quality in the middle of the park.

Likewise, the acquisition, on a permanent deal, of former England U/19 international Roarie Deacon should provide better options up front.

Deacon, who started out at Arsenal but has made his first-team appearances further down the ladder south of the border, scored his share of goals and reached double figures in the National League and FA Cup with Sutton United last season.

For a team that averaged just a goal a game in the Premiership last term, if Deacon can chip in with a similar number this year, his new gaffer will be happy.

The 25-year-old’s big worth to the team, however, could be the fact he can operate wide as well as through the middle, usually just behind the main striker.

When McCann came in as interim boss, his clever use of Marcus Haber showed what a potent weapon the Canadian international can be.

Like all big strikers he needs the right service and without question there was a lack of that last year.

If Deacon’s arrival improves the supply to Haber, the goals-for column could be considerably boosted.

The third of the three signings so far, Lewis Spence, is an interesting one. On the surface it looks unusual, given the 21-year-old was out of the first team at Dunfermline and was on the verge of signing for Brechin.

Having worked with him at East End Park, McCann clearly believes there is a player in there.

Given this won’t be the biggest number on the Dens wage bill, that should not be an issue.

With Daniel Higgins, for many disappointingly, as well as Nick Ross and Kevin Gomis, understandably, moving on, there’s no doubt the strengthening will continue.

And centre-half, in particular, seems an area where at least one more body needs to be added. On that score, Kosta Gadzhalov being given another year was a wise move. In his two years at the club, the Bulgarian has been a useful squad player and the cover he provides made keeping him an obvious move.

He is, though, likely to be a squad player and that means finding another central defender must be a priority — particularly given the goals that were conceded in the disappointing campaign that ended last month.

Ironically, the arrival of another man at the back could lead to an abundance of riches there by the turn of the year.

That’s if long-term absentees James McPake and Julen Etxabeguren are back fit in the next few months.

The fact there’s an “if” in that statement means adding another top-team defender is a must.

It’s now a year-and-a-half since McPake damaged his knee and, while Etxabeguren will definitely return from his ruptured Achilles tendon, that looks unlikely before October and there could be setbacks along the way.