Survival Dundee's priority, says McPake ahead of Premiership return
- Published
James McPake led Dundee back to the Premiership via the play-offs
Survival is Dundee's priority in their first season back in the Scottish Premiership, says manager James McPake.
The Dens Park side return to the top flight following a two-year absence.
After July's League Cup first-round group ties, they open their league campaign at home to St Mirren on 31 July.
"What I want is to put a Dundee team on the pitch that can stay in that league and compete in that league," said McPake.
"That has to be the minimum aim, to stay in the division. We can try to achieve something in what is a strong league now.
"Rangers are strong, Celtic will get back to being Celtic, so to get enough points to stay in the league is our aim.
"We will have our expectations, those will stay behind closed doors, but if we get enough points to stay in the league then we can take it from there.
"They are a resilient bunch. As much as the pandemic has hurt the football club, and it has - people have lost their jobs and that was very difficult for us - it has brought everyone else together in a strange way."
Meanwhile, Dundee confirmed one positive test from their latest round of Covid-19 testing, with the individual now isolating, ahead of Saturday's 3-0 friendly win over Forfar Athletic at Station Park.
Centre-half Corey Panter, the 20-year-old who is on trial pending a potential loan transfer, played the second half, while Forfar Athletic fielded two Dundee academy players - winger Luke Strachan and defender Danny Strachan - as trialists.
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