Spence aims to repay faith

Dunfermline and Neil and the gaffer, Jim Jefferies, brought me in about the first team.

“He (McCann) was always trying to help and encourage me, saying he believed in me.

“So he was a big influence on my career at Dunfermline.

“Then, after he got the job at Dundee, I received a call out of the blue from him late one night saying he was keen to bring me to Dundee.

“At first I thought it was a prank call. I hadn’t really kicked a ball for a couple of years so for a Premiership club to come along wanting to sign me was a shock.

“I had been talking with Brechin as I had been there before on loan and I felt that I just needed game time in the Championship.

“I had agreed terms with them to go part-time but hadn’t signed anything.

“Thankfully Brechin helped me with the deal with Dundee. Brechin boss Darren Dods and his assistant Lee Bailey were keen for me to come here as well as they knew it was a bigger and better move for me.

“I also appreciate everything he (McCann) has done for me. It was a big risk for him bringing me to Dundee as I had not played a lot of games for a couple of years. So I thank him for that and I’m looking to put in good performances to repay him.

“Hopefully we can also climb up the table. It is just about having that belief and a wee bit of luck as well.”

Making your Dundee league debut at a packed Ibrox would have been a daunting prospect for many, but Spence was not fazed by it.

Instead of being intimidated locking horns with the likes of experienced midfielders such as Niko Kranjcar, Graham Dorrans and Ryan Jack, he just focused on his own game.

Spence said: “I enjoyed the experience of playing at Ibrox in front of a big crowd.

“Obviously, though, the result was really poor. It is not nice to get beaten at all, let alone 4-1 at Ibrox.

“The manager told me on Friday afternoon that I was in the starting line-up.

“I had that in my head so prepare.

“I slept OK on Friday night as I was more looking forward to the game rather than being nervous.

“Playing in front of a big crowd doesn’t really bother me.

“Obviously there was a wee bit of nerves five minutes before the game and I could

Pictures: SNS/Steven Brown. Neil McCann has been a big believer in Lewis Spence ever since he was a teenager starting out at Dunfermline. Spence, keen to make his mark at Dens, was undaunted by making his Dundee league debut at Ibrox, far right.