Dundee

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty has been speaking to the media prior to their League Cup group trip to Arbroath on Tuesday.

Here are the key lines:

• Docherty was "absolutely delighted" with the opening 7-1 win over Bonnyrigg Rose but feels his side "could have scored a lot more goals".

• The Dundee boss says Saturday's result shows how better equipped his team are for the group stage this year.

• Dundee will be looking to recruit players "right up until the end of the window," Docherty added.

• He says he knows "what we’re going to need" and "the players I want to bring in".

• Docherty adds that progression from the League Cup groups is a "key objective" for his side.

• On team news, Charlie Reilly has a strain but Seb Palmer-Houlden will return.

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Curtis Main is raring to go for the season ahead after netting a hat-trick in Dundee’s opening 7-1 Premier Sports Cup win at Bonnyrigg Rose.

The 32-year-old grabbed two first-half goals and headed in with 10 minutes left to complete his treble.

The former Motherwell, Aberdeen and St Mirren centre forward returned to Scottish football in January following a spell with Indian club Bengaluru, but did not score in his 15 appearances for the Dark Blues last season.

“For a striker it is great to get off the mark early doors, and for myself it is fantastic to get a hat-trick in the first game,” Main said in a club media interview.

“Last season was not what I expected from myself and I know I can do better.

“It was just in of the fitness side of things, I was not in a position where I would have liked to have been.

“Now after a full pre-season I’m going into these games feeling really great, confident and really fit so I’m really looking forward to attacking the season.”

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Zak Rudden has signed a two-year contract with Queen's Park 24 hours after mutually terminating his contract with Dundee.

The 24-year-old striker returns to the Scottish Championship after finishing last season on loan to Raith Rovers.

Queen's Park head coach Callum Davidson told his club website: "I worked with Zak before at St Johnstone and I know the positives that he will bring us.

"I have been looking to get him for a while now. He is one of the three or four that we would like to bring in. The others are of a similar quality and, if we get them all, everyone will see the direction we want to go in."

Davidson thinks Rudden will give the Glasgow side an attacking threat they were missing and "be one of the leaders" in his squad.

"Zak likes to be in the box scoring goals, but he also likes to stretch the game as well," he added. "He can extend the game for us as he runs the channels.

"Last season, we played a lot of good football. However, when teams pressed us, we did not have an out or the threat that someone stretching the game brings. We have that now in Zak."

Zak Rudden is poised to sign for Queen's Park after the 24-year-old striker mutually agreed a departure from Dundee. (The Courier), external

Simon Murray says returning to Dundee eased "family difficulties" and the 32-year-old striker praised "second to none" Ross County manager Don Cowie for allowing the transfer. (The Courier), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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Striker Zak Rudden has departed Dundee after both parties mutually agreed to terminate his contract, the Scottish Premiership club have stated.

The 24-year-old ended last season on loan to Raith Rovers, scoring three times in 17 appearances for the side who finished runners-up in the Championship but missed out on promotion after a play-off defeat by Ross County.

Rudden ed Dundee on loan from Partick Thistle in January 2022 before g permanently that summer.

He made his debut in the Dundee derby, coming off the bench for Niall McGinn in a 0-0 draw, and made his first start a few days later at home to County.

During his time at Dens Park, Rudden made 56 appearances, scoring 12 times, but made his last in a 3-0 home defeat by Celtic in December.

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Simon Murray says making a return to his boyhood club Dundee was a "no brainer".

The striker, who scored 21 goals in all competitions for Ross County last season, signed a three-year deal with the Dens Park club on Wednesday.

Murray enjoyed a loan spell at Dundee back in 2018, grabbing three goals in 14 appearances, but is now excited to be a permanent fixture in the city of discovery.

"To come back here is a dream, I'm buzzing for it," the 32-year-old said.

"It was an easy decision for me. I spoke to the manager, he's put a lot of faith into me. He's got amazing ambitions and it aligns with what I want.

"My young family's here, it's my boyhood club. It feels good. The professionalism has really risen since the last time I was here. It feels top level."

The rumour mill linked Murray with a return of a different kind to Dundee's Premiership rivals Hibs.

But the striker says even his dad Gary, who played for the Easter Road side on 79 occasions, felt the Dee was the place to be.

"My dad obviously played as well, you don't replace that feeling [of scoring a goal]. It's the ultimate adrenaline rush.

"He was in total agreement this is the right place for me. Really, in the end, it's a no brainer.

"He doesn't miss a game. He's watched me all through the years - even in Africa!"

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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The return of prodigal son Simon Murray to Dundee from Ross County has captured the headlines this week, but Clark Robertson is no stranger to Scottish football either, having started his career with Aberdeen.

The 30-year-old centre-half was released before he could establish himself as a first-team regular but heads back home after his return to Ashdod’s starting line-up coincided with their escape from relegation in Israel’s top flight.

In between, he amassed plenty of experience, including in the Championship, with Blackpool, Rotherham United and Portsmouth, and will hope to put that to good use away to Bonnyrigg Rose on Saturday.

• Read Clive's full piece here

Dundee fans, we asked for your views on what would make this season a successful one.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Anonymous: I'd like to see us safe from relegation as early as possible. Top-five and Europe has to be the target but top-six is not a failure. Do not get trapped into thinking all we have to do is beat Dundee United, but that would be great.

Stewart: We need a cup run, it's been years since we've had a Hampden day out. Not fussed about which cup, let's hope we avoid the Old Firm in the early rounds. League-wise, another season of consolidation, top eight and staying clear of the bottom two all year would do me.

Ben: If we were to finish anywhere from ninth upwards and finish above Dundee United and go unbeaten in all the derbies, then I'd say that's a fairly successful season. However, I do genuinely believe that with a few more new gs, this squad and manager are more than good enough to accomplish another top-six finish and maybe even finish in a European place.

David: It’s been 19 or so years since we’ve gotten to Hampden, I’d love to see us push on for once in the League or Scottish Cup.

George: Dundee can get into Europe next season. They have a goalscorer now. The defence has been better during the friendlies. Hope it keeps on going.

Innes: I think a season of consolidation is needed. It was great to get top six last season and we should use this as a blueprint to stop losing so many points from winning positions. The gaffer has got Dundee going places and with Simon Murray on board now we have a proven threat going forward. Exciting times ahead for the Dee.

John: After a strong return to the Premiership, it looks like more shrewd gs from Tony Docherty with Simon Murray being the icing on the cake. Hopefully this year will be a solid top six and maybe Europe, but happy to see the top-six position cemented especially after so many of the loan players returning to their clubs. Is this a realistic expectation?

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Dundee rounded off their pre-season with a 2-0 victory away to Dunfermline Athletic.

Both goals came in the first half as Luke McCowan delivered for Antonio Portales head in the opener before Curtis Main nodded in from a Scott Tiffoney corner.

New g Simon Murray featured on the Dundee bench, but the striker was an unused substitute at East End Park.

Tony Docherty's side start their competitive campaign away to Bonnyrigg Rose in the League Cup group stage on Saturday.

Dundee fans, after last season's top six success, what would you like to see the club achieve this season? Is top six a must? What about European football?

Have your say on what you want to see from Tony Docherty's side here, external.

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Simon Murray believes Dundee are "going places" after ing the Dens Park club from Premiership rivals Ross County.

The 32-year-old striker spent half a season on loan at Dens back in 2018, scoring three goals in 14 appearances.

"To be here permanently feels amazing," the 32-year-old told club media, external.

"It felt right for me. I grew up here, I grew up watching the club.

"The club is going places at the moment and I'm desperate to be a part of it. At this point in my career, I just felt it was right to be back."

Dundee midfielder Mo Sylla relishes his ‘Derry Vieira’ nickname and is looking forward to his first Tannadice derby "fight". (The Courier)

Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty insists Cammy Kerr, Zak Rudden and Max Anderson - who were all sent to Championship sides on loan last season - remain in his first team plans after impressing during pre-season training. (The Courier, external)

Ross County will let Simon Murray leave Dingwall – with the striker attracting interest from Hibs and Dundee – once they complete the g of 25-year-old Irish striker Ronan Hale from Cliftonville (The Press & Journal, external)

Read the rest of today's Scottish football gossip here.

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Dundee's newest recruit Ethan Ingram says Tony Docherty played a huge part in convincing him to the club.

The 21-year-old put pen to paper on a two-year deal with the Premiership club after rejecting a new contract at West Brom.

The right-back says he was hugely impressed by the manager's approach to the transfer.

"The detail he went into, watching my performances, reading how I am as a player, he spoke to a few people who knew me personally," the defender told Dundee's media team, external.

"The detail he's gone into surprised me, the love I received from him almost swayed it for me.

"Any player wants to feel loved and appreciated and that's what he's done for me."

New 21-year-old Dundee right-back Ethan Ingram says he rejected a new deal with West Bromwich Albion because there was no guarantee of first-team football. (The Courier), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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Seb Palmer-Houlden scored his first goal for Dundee as his side drew away from home with Polish top-flight side Lech Poznan.

The hosts went ahead through Mikael Ishak in the opening 45 minutes after a slick ing move carved open the Dundee defence.

Palmer-Houlden then pressed the Poznan defence on the edge of their area before unleashing a low, driving strike into the bottom corner from just outside of the box just shy of the hour mark.

The 20-year-old ed on a season-long loan from Bristol City this summer and has opened his for the club.

Tony Docherty's side play their final pre-season friendly against Dunfermline on Wednesday 10 July.

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Dundee have signed former England Under-20 right-back Ethan Ingram on a two-year contract after he rejected the offer of a new deal with West Bromwich Albion.

The Gloucester-born 21-year-old had been with the Championship club since the age of 12 but told Dundee's website that he views the move to the Scottish Premiership as "a good opportunity for me".

Ingram, who revealed that "talks have been going on for a few months", added: "I'll bring a lot of athleticism and a lot of direct football and I love to get forward and run."

The defender, who has made three first-team appearances for West Brom, spent last season on loan to Salford City, playing 27 times in all competitions for the side who finished 20th in League Two.

We asked who you are backing to be Dundee's breakout star in the new season.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Ben: Scott Tiffoney. He was a g that the fanbase got very excited about last summer off the back of an excellent season with Partick. He had a fairly underwhelming first season in dark blue, however did show signs of promise towards the back end of the season and looked sharp in our first pre-season friendly back against Arbroath.

Jim: I'm hoping Finlay Robertson can start to show some of his early promise again.

Carl: The standout for me is 20-year-old Luke Graham, an academy graduate and left-footed central defender. Built like a brick outhouse, the way most people like a central defender to be, excellent with the head and very mobile for his size and build. Loaned out last season to Montrose and was their star man, promoted to our first team squad this season.

Kenny: Luke Graham, will play for Scotland one day, a solid young centre-half.

Ian: Luke Graham has looked particularly strong in the friendlies so far. Comfortable on the ball and good in the air. It would be interesting to see how he gets on in the coming friendlies and cup games.

Midfielder Alex Rodriguez and defender Ethan Bristow played as trialists for Dundee in their 3-0 friendly win over Bannik Ostrava. (Courier - subscription), external

Read the rest of Thursday's Scottish gossip.

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Dundee ran out 3-0 winners over Czech side Banik Ostrava in Poznan, as Tony Docherty's side continue their preparations for the new season.

Luke Graham, Jamie Richardson and Finlay Robertson all scored in the second half for the Dark Blues after a goalless first 45.

Dundee next face Lech Poznan on Saturday, before their final pre-season friendly against Dunfermline Athletic on 10 July.