Gavin Rae’s influence on the Dundee team has been clear for all to see in his second stint at the club, but the midfielder isn’t getting carried away with all the praise coming his way.
For one thing, it isn’t in his nature and, for another, he knows that man mountain keeper Rab Douglas would soon sort him out!
The former Rangers, Cardiff and Scotland man has played a leading role in reviving the Dark Blues’ promotion hopes and has impressed his manager with his attitude in the dressing room as well as his performances on the pitch.
The 34-year-old insisted it won’t be going to his head at this late stage in his career.
“It’s nice of the manager to say that I’m not ‘big time’. That’s just the way I’ve always been, so I’m not going to try to start being something I’m not now.
“Anyway, if I did try to then big Rab wouldn’t be slow to put a stop to it! He’s not to be messed with and is great in the dressing room for commanding respect and getting everyone to muck in together.
“Rab is even more experienced than me anyway and has had a fantastic career. I’m used to mucking in with the rest of the lads at every club I’ve been at throughout my career so being back at Dundee is no different.
“I’m just enjoying being back playing again and will give everything to help Dundee try to get to where they want to be.”
Rae has been famed for his own drive and determination wherever he’s played, and that’s something which has rubbed off on his younger team-mates.
He added: “I think the boys appreciate what I try to bring to the team. I’m not over-bearing at all but if I see someone struggling just a little then I’ll have a quiet word in their ear to try to help them.
“To be fair, they’ve all been quite receptive to what I’ve had to say and that’s because they’re all a good bunch.
“Without a doubt, it’s one of the best dressing rooms I’ve ever encountered. I’ve been at places in the past where, without saying there were cliques, the players didn’t always mix all together.
“But here each and everyone one of us get on very well, which is one of the reasons why we’ve been doing well recently. If you’ve got a happy dressing room, then you’re more than likely to have the lads going that extra yard for each other on the pitch.
“I think the gaffer has to take a lot of credit for fostering that kind of atmosphere. We’re all in this together and when you have that kind of mentality it can only augur well for the future.”
Dundee return to league business this weekend when Livingston are the visitors to Dens Park. The Dens men came so close to knocking Kilmarnock out of the Scottish Cup last Saturday tie but Rae insists that performance will be quickly forgotten if they don’t pick up three vital points at home to Livi.
“We got a lot of plaudits for the way we played against Kilmarnock, which was nice, but, at the end of the day, the league is our priority. There’s no point matching an SPL club like Killie like we did and then undoing all the good work when Livingston come here.
“I’m sure all the lads will be up for Saturday because we’re determined to get the right result and keep things going.”