Steven Pressley insists Dundee must learn from rivals like St Mirren if they are to compete for a top-six place again.
Another top-half finish is the task set of his new head coach by Dens chief John Nelms.
However, with five or six new signings still needed the playing squad is not yet at the level needed to compete for the club’s stated aim.
Pressley is fully aware of that and revealed more signings are imminent.
Already in the building are Drey Wright, Paul Digby and Plamen Galabov alongside imposing striker Emile Acquah.
Those first signings show learning from the recruitment team at Dens Park says Pressley.
Galabov, Digby and Wright bring experience while Digby and Acquah in particular bring physicality and both those attributes will be vital this season.
Right blend
“Paul Digby comes with huge experience as well as leadership,” Pressley said.
“We lost Mo Sylla and his size, presence. Paul gives us that.
“I think as well, we’ve got to learn from other clubs in the division that equally have limited resources – like St Mirren.
“These clubs have got success through having physicality around their team.
“It’s finding the right blend between what we want and equally respecting what the league requires.
“So I think we’ve got to learn from other teams as well.
“To have Digby as a player of that size and that position, I think we are learning as a club.
“So I think he’ll be a really important signing for us.
“He has great leadership.
“You’ve got Simon Murray, you’ve got Clark Robertson, who’s a terrific professional and great experience.
“And then we probably need another couple, I think, around that to really stabilise and support our younger group.”
Drey Wright
Drey Wright joined from Tayside rivals St Johnstone following their relegation to the Championship last term.
Supporters will get a first viewing of the 30-year-old Englishman as Dundee face Arbroath in a friendly this afternoon.
And Pressley is pleased with what Wright will bring this season.
“Drey joined in training for the first time on Wednesday and he’ll play a small part on Saturday,” the head coach said.
“He can play quite a number of positions, including full-back.
“And he actually played quite a lot of football in the left-back area as well for St Johnstone last year.
“But he’s a player that can gain a lot of yardage with the ball.
“Drey is very positive with the ball and drives with the ball. So I think he’s a really interesting player.”
Mexicans v Arbroath?
Acquah could also make his first impression at Gayfield while ex-Burnley midfielder Tommy McDermott is expected to be fielded as a trialist.
Friday’s signing Plamen Galabov, though, won’t be available with international clearance yet to be received.
He did, though, train with his new team-mates on Friday.
Monterrey trio Jorge Landeros, Jose Urias and Oscar Soto, meanwhile, will not play.
They have not got international clearance, either.
The club hopes to get that next week in order to see them in friendly action before their trial period ends.
With the squad still very much under construction, there will be opportunities for a number of the club’s youth players to impress at Gayfield.
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