One of the shining lights of the lower leagues, Charlie Reilly, will be a Dundee player next season.
The 21-year-old has been tearing up League Two with Albion Rovers this season.
Goals and assists aplenty in a side struggling at the foot of the entire SPFL.
Courier Sport this week revealed the deal had been agreed to bring the attacker to Dens Park this summer after chasing his signature in January.
So what are the Dark Blues getting?
Background
Reilly came through the youth setup at Hamilton Accies but didn’t make a first-team appearance for the Lanarkshire side.
He did have a short spell with Airdrieonians in 2019/20 in League One, making seven appearances.
That prompted Partick Thistle, then in League One themselves, to snap up the attacker.
Less than 90 minutes across three appearances in 2020/21 followed, however, before Reilly dropped down to League Two with the Wee Rovers.
In Coatbridge his career got going with seven goals and six assists in 36 appearances as Albion finished eighth.
Those numbers, however, have been dwarfed this term.
This season
Reilly has been a sensation in League Two in 2022/23.
That’s despite Rovers currently propping up the division with just two games to go.
There's just no stopping Charlie Reilly at the moment 🔥#cinchL2 | @albionrovers pic.twitter.com/ceEbi8U0ik
— SPFL (@spfl) April 10, 2023
In a struggling team, Reilly sits second in the League Two scoring charts with 21 goals in 32 appearances, just one behind Tommy Goss of Annan.
On top of that, he’s notched 14 assists. That makes the 21-year-old the most effective attacking player in the division with 35 direct goal involvements.
That included three assists in Saturday’s vital victory over Stenhousemuir with new boss Sandy Clark praising the display, saying: “It is unusual for him not to get a goal himself.”
This is how to take a free kick. @albionrovers take the lead from this Charlie Reilly thunderbolt. Elgin 0-1 Albion. pic.twitter.com/UcQu7Zyo0k
— Craig Christie (@HNM_cchristie) February 4, 2023
To put Reilly’s remarkable numbers in context, Albion Rovers have scored 44 league goals this season.
That means Reilly has either scored or assisted 80% of their goals in League Two.
Often playing from the left wing, Reilly has scored 23 in 39 matches in all competitions.
Dundee link to Charlie Reilly
Reilly has been on the radar of the Dens Park recruitment team for some time.
It’s understood the part-time man has been a regular at training with the Dark Blues throughout this season, with the blessing of his club Albion.
Extra training with a full-time club has been a benefit for the player, helping Albion in the process, but also allowed Dundee boss Gary Bowyer to run the rule over the midfielder.
⚽️ GOALS
All the goals from yesterday's 3-1 #cinchL2 win over @StenhousemuirFC!
🇲🇰 #ARFCOKAY pic.twitter.com/8dTbBShjMm
— Albion Rovers FC (@albionrovers) April 23, 2023
A deal in January was mooted but all parties have had to wait till the summer to get it over the line.
In the meantime, Dens youngsters Luke Graham and Euan Mutale have been picking up vital experience on loan with the Wee Rovers.
Highly-rated centre-back Graham has played 27 times this term, though was red-carded last time out in defeat at Annan.
Striker Mutale, picked up from Sutton United last summer, has had to be more patient. A start at the weekend was just his second in eight outings but drew praise from manager Clark.
Reilly, Mutale and Graham could all be together at Dens Park again next season.
First, though, the task at hand is to keep Albion Rovers clear of relegation, starting at East Fife on Saturday.
Conversation