Greg Stewart has pleaded with Dundee manager Paul Hartley for the chance to partner German goal-grabber Luka Tankulic up front this season as their top-flight return fast approaches.
Tankulic has been nothing short of sensational since signing a two-year deal for the Dens Park club last week and has wasted no time showing his credentials by hitting the target in every outing so far for Hartley’s newly-promoted team.
The former Fortuna Dusseldorf and VFL Wolfsburg ace gave the first glimpse of his talent by netting as a trialist against Manuel Pellegrini’s Man City, and followed that up with an impressive double to sink Hearts last midweek.
His latest wonder strike was in the first-half of Friday night’s friendly with English League One title favourites Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
The 23-year-old attacker is already looking certain to be a key man for the new-look Taysiders in the season ahead.
Fellow summer signing Stewart, who moved to Dens from Cowdenbeath, admits he is hopeful of starring alongside Tankulic when the real stuff kicks off at home to Peterhead in the League Cup this Saturday, before welcoming Kilmarnock to Dens for their Premiership curtain-raiser the following week.
Stewart said: “Luka has great ability. Hopefully we can get the chance to play up front together.
“I think we could work well together. Hopefully the gaffer is thinking that in his head too.
“He wants to be flexible, to play different formations in different games. Luka holds the ball up so well. He’s a big, strong lad who is a great foil,” he said.
“As a German, they always naturally want to play football so he’s a great capture for us.”
Dundee had the unusual feeling of slipping to defeat for the first time in five pre-season outings at the hands of Nigel Clough’s slick Blades in Friday’s final warm-up match ahead of the big kick-off.
Tankulic levelled with a spectacular strike from distance in 25 minutes to cancel out former Motherwell man Jamie Murphy’s early opener for their English hosts.
But the Dens men fell away after the interval as goals from Chris Basham, Jose Baxter and substitute Marc McNulty put United out of sight. German centre-back Thomas Konrad hit a late consolation for the visitors in the dying minutes.
Stewart, though, reckons Hartley’s hopefuls can learn from Friday’s experience and take it into their top-tier return, which holds no fears for them.
And the striker is confident Dundee won’t be scrapping around the relegation zone in a desperate battle for points when the new Scottish Premiership campaign gets under way.
He said: “It’s a lesson learned for the boys. We’re going to get that in the Scottish Premiership as well.
“If we make mistakes like that, we’ll get punished. Having said that, I don’t see why we can’t get into the top-six.
“If you look at some of the football we’ve played, it should make for a lot of confidence among the lads.
“Some people might think we’ll be looking to avoid relegation since we’ve just come up, but I don’t think that should be the case at all.”
Dundee are eagerly anticipating the visit of Jim McInally’s Blue Toon to Dens for Saturday’s cup clash after a summer of wholesale changes designed to make them ready for their return to the big-time.
With no fewer than 12 new signings during a whirlwind summer of activity, it’s time for the newly-promoted outfit to turn on the style and ensure their stay in the top-flight isn’t short-lived like two years ago.
Stewart believes he’s ready to play his part.
He is relishing his first real taste of the big-time after spending last season with Cowdenbeath. He said: “Everyone is gelling well.
“There have been a lot of new faces arriving in the summer. Now we’re really looking forward to the season starting against Peterhead this Saturday.
“We’ve put all the hard work in during pre-season,” he said.
“Moving from part-time to full-time football, it’s been a lot different going in every day to training and working so hard.
“I’m loving it, though, and hopefully I’ll keep progressing and stay in the manager’s plans for the whole season,” he added.