No kidding, McCann rates midfielder Spence

Lewis Spence knows Dundee manager Neil McCann has been a big believer in his qualities as a player ever since he was a teenager starting out at Dunfermline.

However, when he received a call from the Dundee manager asking him to sign for the Dark Blues, he was sure it was a prank.

McCann, though, who knew Spence from a spell coaching with the Pars, was serious and showed his faith in the midfielder once again last week when he handed him his Premiership debut against Rangers in front of 50,000 supporters at Ibrox.

The 21-year-old was unable to prevent his side losing but he gave an assured performance that he hopes will win him the nod once more this afternoon in the Tayside derby at Dens against St Johnstone.

Spence said: “I was playing with the under-20s at Dunfermline and Neil and the manager, Jim Jefferies, brought me in about the first team. He (McCann) was always trying to help and encourage me, saying he believed in me.

“Then after he got the job at Dundee, I received a call out of the blue from him 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 surprise.

“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 manager 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.”

Lewis Spence