Dundee’s loan defender Adam Cummins has targeted this weekend’s top-of-the-table clash as the ideal place to make his bow for the Dark Blues.
The 20-year-old only made the switch from Motherwell on Friday and, although he was handed a spot on the substitutes’ bench, was unable to make his debut as Dundee went down 1-0 at home to Livingston.
However, Cummins is determined to prove himself to boss John Brown this week and force his way into Bomber’s plans for Saturday’s all-important visit of second-placed Hamilton Accies.
“It’s been a good first few days,” Cummins said. “I’ve settled in well and they seem a good bunch of lads so once we get the training sessions out of the way I’ll hopefully start playing some games.
“I was a bit disappointed I couldn’t have got the loan move pushed through before the end of last week, because obviously I only came on Friday. The rest of the lads have done well so I can’t expect to walk into a team that’s playing well.
“I’ve got to get my head down in training this week and hopefully I’ll impress the gaffer. There’s a few other trialist lads in and I think the gaffer wants to look at a few people so I’ve got to keep my head down, train well and hopefully get picked.
“John Brown is a good manager and I’ve only been here a couple of days but they seem a good group of lads and the gaffer seems a nice guy. They’ve made me feel very welcome.”
The former Everton Academy graduate, who won Motherwell’s Young Player of the Year last season, has seen his first-team opportunities restricted under Stuart McCall this term.
Niggling injuries at the start of the season might have been to blame, but Cummins says he has put that behind him and is determined to seize his chance to play first-team football with Dundee.
“Stuart McCall told me that he is not going to stand in the way of me playing week in week out,” he continued.
“I played 33 games for Motherwell last year, and this year I’ve made five appearances so it’s a big difference.
“I couldn’t afford to take a year out, so to speak, and I want to push on from last year.
“I’m still obviously feeling good in training and, touch wood, I’ve trained for the last few months, so hopefully I’m over the worst and I can concentrate on just playing now.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge and hopefully we can increase the gap between us and Hamilton.
“It would be nice to get a win on Saturday to increase the gap at the top and I’m looking forward to every game I’m playing because I haven’t played many this year through injury and lack of opportunity.”
One of Cummins’ appearances for Motherwell last season was at Dens Park in a 2-1 win over Dundee, and the Scouser admits he sympathised with the Dark Blues’ plight after being thrust into the SPL at short notice.
He added: “It’s always hard being the team who come up isn’t it? But if they bounce straight back then last year is forgotten about.
“All the lads want to get back to the Premiership and they are looking forward to it and working hard in training.
“We’ve just got to take it one game at a time and hopefully we’ll be there come the end of the season.”
Dundee boss John Brown managed to see Cummins in match action in a bounce game on Tuesday and confirmed the defender is in with a shout of making his debut this weekend.