Dundee

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Dundee defender Luke Graham says his experiences playing first-team matches have helped him progress far more than academy football would have done.

The 21-year-old has had successful loan spells at Lochee United, Albion Rovers, Montrose and Falkirk – where he was part of the Bairns' Championship winning squad last season.

He says he has come back from each one of those stints as a "new player".

"Just playing games week-in, week-out, it is going to make you a better player and I feel like it did that for me and it was just a really great experience," said Graham.

"For me personally, I feel like going out and playing men's football is the best thing for you.

"I have done that three or four times now and I feel every time I have come back a new player."

Graham hopes those experiences can help him to establish himself at Dens Park under Steven Pressley.

"As a centre-back you are not going to go in to a Premiership game after playing under-19s football. It is just not the same thing - you are going to get bashed about.

"So I feel like you learn a lot from just going out and playing men's football."

Dundee are to reapply for permission to build a new training ground at Riverside Drive after an initial go-ahead from the council was reversed. (The Courier, external - subscription required)

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Dundee head coach Steven Pressley has been speaking to the media before his side's League Cup trip to third-tier Alloa Athletic this weekend.

Here are the key lines:

• As they aim to bounce back from their season-opening defeat to Airdrieonians last week, Pressley said: "Do I think we are anywhere near resembling what I want us to be? Absolutely not, not even close, but I do believe in the process and I do believe in what we are trying to do".

• He added: "Setbacks often are the catalyst to move things forward, to really highlight and remind people where we are".

• After making a losing start to his time in charge of Dundee, he said: "I was under no illusions this was going to be a difficult job, a challenging job - but I enjoy that challenge and also I enjoy working with this group of players".

• Pressley described that first game as "a great learning", adding: "The stress testing and the things it brought to my attention were brilliant".

• He has spoken of the potential they have signed in midfielder Callum Jones, 24, saying the former Hull City player has the attributes and mindset to really develop.

• With League One Alloa having won both of their opening League Cup group games, Pressley admits the pressure is all on Dundee, adding: "There never is any margin error".

• Team news: Charlie Reilly remains Dundee's only injury absentee.

Image source, Getty Images

New signing Callum Jones aims to bring goals and "a little bit of bite" to the Dundee midfield.

The 24-year-old has agreed a two-year contract at Dens Park after leaving Hull City.

"I think the project is good, the new manager has a style of play that I like and I think he thinks I'll suit it and I think I'll definitely suit it," Jones told club media.

"I would say that I'm a box-to-box midfielder with good technical ability. I definitely want to bring goals and assists and to try and help the team win as many games as possible.

"But I also think I've got that nasty side, a little bit of bite, and I don't mind rolling my sleeves up and putting myself about."

During his six years at Hull, Jones had four loan spells, with two stints at Morecambe between time at Grimsby Town and Forest Green Rovers.

Dundee are closing in on a midfield addition after Saturday's Premier Sports Cup defeat by Airdrieonians exposed how "very bare" they are in certain areas of their squad. (The Courier), external

Former Scotland midfielder Charlie Adam, who finished his playing career at Dens Park in 2022, reveals that he applied for the Dundee head coach post after Tony Docherty's sacking but was not interviewed. (The Scotsman), external

A plan by Dundee for a new training facility at Riverside is in limbo after a legal challenge by a group of residents against its approval proved successful. (The Courier), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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We asked you for your views following Dundee's defeat to Airdrieonians in Steven Pressley's first game in charge.

Here's what some of you said:

Daniel: Just another chronic appointment from John Nelms and Gordon Strachan. No fight, no skill and no ideas from Steven Pressley.

Mark: Had a feeling this was going to happen since the 'nothing to prove' comment!

Robert: Incredibly disappointing performance and unacceptable result.it's early days in Pressley's tenure so I hope that we improve greatly over the coming games.

Jack: If this is what we as Dundee fans are in for this season, then hello Championship football.

No cohesion, no urgency and a manager - oops - sorry fist team coach who stood on the sideline doing absolutely nothing but hold his wee black book.

Pressley stated he had nothing to prove! Well, Steven you have everything to prove! Stop being an upstart and get a team together or you will be gone by January.

Come back, Doc. At least we had a real manager then.

Alan: Elvis wasn't joking when he said "if you are looking for trophies and titles, I'm not your man". I'd be surprised if he lasts three months.

Iain: Dire, absolutely dire. Slow, no movement, no urgency - worst I've seen at Dens in years.

Phil: League opener against Hibs being only a few weeks away gives me the fear, we are miles off it.

I don't think we can count on last season's fringe players stepping up and filling the boots of Cameron, Mulligan, Shaughnessy etc. We need see some experienced pros signed in key areas, especially some attacking creativity in midfield.

George: What else did you expect after losing so much creativity in the midfield? We need creative players who can hold the defence and attack together. It will take time but we need new players in quickly the turn around after last season is too slow. Need to get creative players in now.

Peter: Embarrassing.

Brian: Absolutely abysmal. After last season changes, this is the first season in my 54 years of following the Dee that I have no enthusiasm for the team. The hierarchy are killing our great club.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

While he would like to continue his incredible scoring form this season, captain Simon Murray says he will settle for fewer goals as long as Dundee win more games.

The 33-year-old striker was able to score 21 times last term in a struggling side, who finished 10th in Scottish Premiership.

In the two campaigns prior to that, while at Ross County and Queen's Park, he amassed an impressive 44 goals.

Speaking ahead of Dundee's season opener against Airdrieonians in the League Cup, Murray said: "I would like to keep up the form I have been in for the past couple of years, so if I could get to the same level and try to go one more it would be great.

"But there is a bigger responsibility for me, I need to make sure I am doing the best work for the team like I always do, and if it means scoring less but winning more games then that is more important."

He will have a key role to play in a new-look side under head coach Steven Pressley, who handed Murray the captaincy soon after his appointment.

"New faces bring freshness," Murray added. "Obviously we lost some key players last season, but that is football. We all know what it is like and you need to adapt.

"You have got players now who are coming in and want to be here and give their all for the team, that is just as important.

"Then also the new ideas the manager wants to implement this season and how he wants us to play, so it has been quite a full on couple of weeks, but the boys are buzzing and really taking on board what he has been saying and it is exciting."

Manager Steven Presley wants Dundee to ease the burden on forward and captain Simon Murray, 33. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Dundee head coach Steven Pressley has been speaking to the media ahead of his side's League Cup group opener at home to Airdrieonians on Saturday.

Here are the key lines:

• Pressley's appointment last month divided opinion among the supporters. Five weeks on, he says: "I am not sitting here feeling I need to prove anything to anybody".

• When asked if that makes it even more important to get the new season off to a winning start, he said all managers are under pressure to win games.

• "All I can do is continue to work hard with my staff, with our players and hopefully in time begin to convince people we can do something that is right here," he added.

• Ahead of the start of their group campaign, he said: "It is the balance for us, we know the importance of winning the game but equally we know the importance of getting all our players up to speed for the start of the new league campaign."

• After bringing in six players so far, he says they probably need "another five or six" but adds there is nothing imminent on that front.

• He points out that while they have "good cover" in defence, the are "very thin on the ground" in midfield and wide areas.

• He was full of his praise for Airdrieonians manager Rhys McCabe, adding: "We are going to give them the utmost respect."

• Team news: Charlie Reilly is out with a shoulder injury.

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Dundee say Barry Nicholson and Glen Johnson will "bring a wealth of experience and knowledge" to the club as the pair join Steven Pressley's coaching staff.

Former Scotland midfielder Nicholson has been appointed assistant coach, while ex-Carlisle and Queen's Park coach Johnson joins as head of goalkeeping.

Nicholson, who played for Rangers, Dunfermline and Aberdeen, previously worked with Pressley at Fleetwood before spending time at Nottingham Forest.

Like Johnson, who has had time working in America and India, Nicholson also coached at Queen's Park before leaving in March.

Image source, Getty Images

New Dundee forward Ashley Hay "couldn't wait" to sign for the club and link-up with Steven Pressley again after joining from Brentford.

Hay, 21, spent two years with the Bees and captained their 'B' side as well as being top-scorer, while working closely with Pressley in his role as head of individual player development.

"I am excited to be here and can't wait to meet all the boys," Hay told club media.

"I was with Steven at Brentford. He came to me and my agent, and proposed for me to come here. I heard about the project and couldn't wait to get down.

"We had a good chat, he explained what he wants from me, what he sees in me. I trust in him fully and can't wait to get started."

Image source, Getty Images

Dundee head coach Steven Pressley has returned to former club Brentford to sign 19-year-old left winger Tony Yogane on a season-long loan.

Pressley was the Premier League club's head of individual player development before moving to Dens Park this summer.

And he oversaw Yogane's development through the club's youth system, his debut and, so far, only first-team appearance last year in a Carabao Cup win over Leyton Orient, then a loan spell with Exeter City.

The Croydon-born teenager told Dundee's website: "Steven worked with me closely and looked after me, so I couldn't say no when the opportunity came."

Yogane began his career in Sheffield Wednesday's youth system before moving to Brentford as a 16-year-old.

He ended last season having made 19 appearances, five of them starts, as Exeter finished the League One campaign in 16th place.

"It was good - the league was obviously tougher, a different experience, but a good experience to play that amount of games," Yogane said of the jump from under-21 games with Brentford.

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BBC Sport has taken a look at which players will be free agents on 1 July.

The majority of major football leagues run from late summer to late spring, with pre-season in June and July. Therefore, contracts across most divisions typically expire at 23:59 on 30 June each year.

Those whose contracts are expiring but have already agreed transfers to new clubs are not included, as they will not become free agents.

Some Scottish Premiership contracts expire on 31 May rather than 30 June - the below players either already are or will become free agents.

Aberdeen: Tom Ritchie

Celtic: Greg Taylor

Dundee: Scott Fraser, Antonio Portales, Joe Shaughnessy

Dundee United: David Babunksi, Allan Campbell, Lewis Moult, Bryan Mwangi

Falkirk: N/A

Hearts: Jorge Grant, Barrie McKay, Lawrence Shankland

Hibernian: Maksymilian Boruc, Junior Hoilett

Kilmarnock: Kyle Magennis, Kieran O'Hara, Kyle Vassell

Livingston: N/A

Motherwell: Moses Ebiye, Harry Paton, Dominic Thompson, Davor Zdravkovski

Rangers: Adam Devine, Tom Lawrence, Ianis Hagi

St. Mirren: Dennis Adeniran, Elvis Bwomono

Dundee boss Steven Pressley is set to make full use his Brentford links to sign 19-year-old winger Tony Yogane on loan. (Daily Record), external

Read the rest of Sunday's Scottish gossip.

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Dundee's pre-season hit-out over Arbroath was over-shadowed by a nasty-looking shoulder injury to Charlie Reilly.

The 23-year-old forward has suffered with persistent knocks and niggles in his time at Dens Park since joining from Albion Rovers in 2023.

Reilly was fouled in the box early in the first-half, before new captain Simon Murray missed the penalty.

Drey Wright scored direct from a corner moments after the second half began, with a trialist adding the second.

Dundee (First-half): McCracken, Ingram, Astley, Koumetio, Digby, Garza, Murray, Hunter, Reilly, F Robertson, Graham.

Dundee (Second-half): Carson, Donnelly, Wright, Acquah, Trialist, Samuels, Scott, Hunter, Davies-Browne, Crombie, Lopez.

Substitutes: Sharp, Leiper, Baird, Bland.