Dundee United will get “proper matches” in Ireland this week, according to local boy Sean Dillon.
Athlone Town are the first pre-season opponents for the Tangerines this evening, and the United defender is sure that they, and Bohemians later in the week, will give Jackie McNamara’s men exactly what they are looking for.
He said: “They’re in the middle of their season so I’m not sure what line-ups we’ll be facing, but they will probably look on it as a chance to impress and possibly catch the eye of people who might be watching from over here.
“The way I look at it is we’re playing guys who are in season. They’ll be very fit. They’ll have their own agendas whether that’s getting back in the team or keeping their place.
“We’ll get two tough games. I keep an eye on the league, and Athlone are bottom at the moment. Bohs are mid-table.”
Last summer’s pre-season in Spain finished with a farcical match in San Roque during which boss McNamara considered taking his players off due to the standard of refereeing and the attitude of their opposition.
United know they are on safer ground 12 months on.
“I’d like to think that won’t be happening,” Dillon said. “Let’s just say last year was an experience. It was my first game back after an operation so, for me, I was just pleased to be getting a game and getting involved.
“But it wasn’t really what we’d wanted and what we had planned for. It was a lesson learned, and all that. These games in Ireland will be proper matches.”
Dillon will be an unofficial tour guide for the week, and he has given their training base a five-star rating.
He said: “Our base is a little bit further out than we’ve been in the past.
“We normally stay at City West, which is about five minutes from my house. This is about 25, which is scandalous!
“It’s a lovely hotel though. I’ve been at a wedding there. There are a lot of pitches at the back of it.”