Fraser Aird’s Dundee United career got off to a cracking start with a brilliant solo goal in the friendly at Brechin the other night.
And it goes without saying the Canadian international wants to build on the feelgood factor that started up at Glebe Park.
As a veteran of the Championship from his time at Dunfermline, however, he knows some tough times lie ahead.
Very tough, in fact, because the 23-year-old reckons this year the second tier will be the most difficult in the land.
He said: “It’s a tough league. The teams coming down will have an expectation to go straight back up.
“Then there are teams that have been down there for a while that will have a real go at getting up.
“I would probably goes as far as to be saying in Scotland right now it is the toughest league.
“The Championship is the most competitive but we are a club that have ambitions and we are one I think should be in the Premiership. I think we can all agree on that.”
That’s pretty much all he has to say on that last point. He knows the best place to show United’s intent won’t be in interviews but out on the pitch and by getting results.
And as Csaba Laszlo’s new-look side gels, he’s confident that will be the case.
“We need to do our talking on the pitch,” he added.
“Hopefully, all the pieces will come together during the season and the goal is to get to the Premiership.
“It is going to take time but the pre-season games and the Betfred Cup games before the league season starts are all preparation for the first game against Dunfermline.
“And the Betfred Cup gives us competitive games before the season starts but at the end of the day it is part of our preparation for the start of the league.
“It’s a lot better playing games than training all the time but we do want to go on a nice cup run as well.”
The early signs up at Glebe Park were encouraging and Aird admits he was pleased with how things went for both himself and his new team-mates.
“Obviously, I was delighted to get a run out and get the goal. It was my first game for Dundee United and it was great to get started.
“It was a pre-season game and the big thing was to get minutes on the pitch and that was good.
“And the goal was good for the confidence going forward.
“It was the first time all the boys had played together and gave the manager the chance to have a look at us in a game rather than training.”
While it goes without saying United have taken something of a gamble by making so many signings in one summer.
There have already been nine new arrivals and the manager has revealed he’d like as many as another four before the Betfred Cup kicks off against Arbroath next week.
Rather than being daunted by that, though, Aird is relishing the challenge of being part of what could be a completely new team.
“It was a position when they signed nine new players that it was the rebuilding of a club.
“The number of signings excited me. Obviously, the manager has a vision of the way he wants the team to play and the direction he wants to go.
“It’s an exciting time ahead for the football club and I am glad to be part of it.”
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