Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Dee hand forward Mendy fresh start
DUNDEE have handed Senegalese striker Jean Alassane Mendy the chance to regain his scoring touch after a frustrating spell in Belgium.
The Dark Blues have snapped up the 28-year-old on a two-year deal after he left Sporting Lokeren of the Belgian Pro League earlier this month.
He only moved there in January after a successful nine years in Norwegian football that saw him hit the back of the net on a regular basis.
Born i n Dakar, most of his professional career has been spent in Europe and, as early as the age of nine, he was part of French club Brest’s youth system.
It was in Scandinavia, however, the attacker made his name and his time there saw him turn out for no fewer than five Norwegian clubs.
That included a prolific spell in the third division with Elverum where he scored 25 times in 27 appearances.
From there he moved to Kristiansund and Sanderfjord before heading back to Kristiansund and, with the goals continuing to flow, Lokeren moved for him at the turn of the year.
Things, though, have not worked out there and since January he’s only had 20 minutes of top-team football, hence the mutual decision for him to move on this month.
Dee boss Neil McCann, though, believes he will get goals in the Scottish Premiership and has moved quickly to secure him on a deal.
In doing so, Mendy has become the fifth summer signing at Dens and has already joined fellow new boys Jack Hamilton, Nathan Ralph, Kharl Madianga and Elton Ngwatala in training.
If international clearance comes through in time, Mendy and the other arrivals should be in action when the pre-season friendly programme kicks off with a game against Brechin City at Glebe Park on Friday evening.
The next action after that comes on Monday when Cowdenbeath are faced down at Central Park.
Dundee have also handed a new deal to young attacker Matty Henvey, the 18-year-old signing a one-year contract.
Henvey broke into the first team at the turn of the year and went on to make four appearances.
He would have made more but for an injury suffered when scoring in the win at Hamilton at the end of January ruled him out for most of the rest of the season.