Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Pressure all on new Dark Blues
NEW Dundee striker Danny Mullen says the pressure is all on Hearts in the Championship this season as the two clubs prepare to go head to head.
The Jambos have been installed as early favourites to win the title and gain promotion back to the top flight after their demotion last season.
Former Livingston and St Mirren man Mullen, though, is taking that with a pinch of salt as the Dark Blues prepare a promotion bid of their own.
He said: “They obviously have a bigger wage budget but that doesn’t mean they are going to run away with the league or anything like that.
“This is a really competitive division and people can take points off each other week in, week out.
“It is all about gathering momentum. It is a 27-game season so, hopefully, we can start well.
“We have a good squad here and we will be pushing Hearts all the way.
“I think considering what happened with them last season, they will struggle to turn it around and have a good start, so the pressure is all on them.
“We have our own ambitions to win promotion this season and we are more than capable of doing it.”
After struggling for game time at the Buddies, Mullen is keen to “kickstart” his career at Dens Park.
The former Livingston man was snapped up this summer after leaving St Mirren by Dens boss James McPake who narrowly missed out on his signature in January.
In fact, Mullen was already in his car on the way to Dundee only for the deal to collapse as the winter transfer window slammed shut.
Mullen, who won the Championship with the Buddies, said: “Hopefully coming to Dundee can kick-start my career again and I can show people what I can do.
“Coming to a club like this is a no-brainer for me.
“When I heard the gaffer was interested in me again, I couldn’t wait to get signed up.
“Back in January, it had come to the last day and was really close but it ended up falling through.
“I had just left in the car but the deal ended up breaking down.
“These things happen in football but the important thing is I am here now and, hopefully, we will have a good season.
“I have won promotion and scored a few goals in this division as well. Hopefully, I can do the same again with Dundee.
“That’s obviously the aim.” Mullen turned up for pre-season training with his new team-mates this week after a long hiatus thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.
He’s been delighted to get back out on the grass with a ball at his feet and get used to his new surroundings.
One face he knows, however, is