Pooling power
McGhee: Dens boss key to signings like Griffiths
JORDAN McGHEE believes the signing of Leigh Griffiths shows the pulling power of Dundee boss James McPake.
The midfielder reckons it’s a major coup to get the Celtic striker back to Dens Park for a second spell.
McGhee knows it’s down to Griffiths’ friendship with McPake but he’s just the latest big-name player to join the Dens boss after Charlie Adam and Graham Dorrans.
The Dundee vice-captain said: “It is a massive coup to get Griff in the door. He played with the manager, as did Dorrans. It is great for the manager to get him in.
“It is good for us on the pitch, the club and the fans who get to watch them week in, week out.”
Griffiths, who last starred for the club from 2009 to 2011, is set to mark his second Dundee coming against Livingston today. McGhee has already seen Griffiths up close and knows he is fired up to be an even bigger success at Dens Park second time around. The midfielder added: “He was a successful player here but now he will want to show the fans he has come back a better player. Obviously he’ll want to show he still has the goalscoring instinct as well. “You know what he is like and what you get from him, I have played with him enough times. He shoots on sight and always hits the target. “He is at a good level and brings a lot to the team. We also have Charlie and we have always had big-name players. It is great to learn from them and try to improve.”
McGhee has also cheered Griffiths on as a Scotland fan and is well aware the hitman will bring even more firepower to Dundee.
His new team-mate said: “What he does bring is goals. That can win you matches if you keep the door shut at the other end.
“He is a big-game player who has played in many Old Firm and Scotland games and scored against England. Hopefully he can replicate that and score some big goals for us.
“He is always on the shoulder and trying to get a shot on goal. When he gets on the left foot he is always trying to shift it to hit the target.
“That will help us in the long run but we also have Jason Cummings who can do that. We have a lot of options up front.”
McGhee is likely to captain Dundee today with Adam out. The former Hearts player said: “I always act like a leader on the pitch. It doesn’t matter if I have an armband or not. It doesn’t change who you are or what you do on the park.
“It is just about making sure you do everything the same and everybody is at it.”
Dundee are still looking for their first league win of the season and everyone knows it would be massive if they could deliver today against Livin, who are bottom of the table and still looking for their first points.
McGhee said: “It is massive, especially at home in front of the fans. We have been really good with the draw against Hibs and the League Cup win over Motherwell. It is a massive game and one we are looking forward to.
“We got minutes in during the international break and we have worked hard to prepare.”