Old Firm strike has given Ness a taste for Friday night’s fight
He burst on to the scene as a teenager with an Old Firm wonder goal.
Now, Jamie Ness is after more derby delight when Dundee face Dundee United.
Dark Blues star Ness was just 19 when he bagged a 25-yard raker to put Rangers ahead against Celtic in February 2011.
In the years since, he has tasted low-key derby action at both Plymouth Argyle and Crewe Alexandra.
But he reckons the atmosphere in Dundee on Friday night as the city’s two Championship title chasers go head-tohead at Tannadice can fuel him to further grudge match heroics.
“I’ve played for Plymouth against Exeter City and for Crewe against Port Vale in England, which are both local derbies,” he said.
“But Rangers and Celtic is obviously the one that stands out, and it’s the one people want to talk about.
“I’ve said before I didn’t realise at the time just how big it was to score in that game, but the goal I scored is still mentioned, so the proof is in the pudding.
“I’ve always enjoyed playing in derbies. The sort of atmospheres they create are exactly the kind you want to play in.
“The adrenaline gets going and I find that makes a difference.
“In the moment you’re focused on the game, but the atmosphere is going on around you, so it does play a part, even if it’s subconsciously.
“For me, it really does help when you’ve got a crowd backing you – or going against you – and we’ll have both on Friday night, so it’s something I’m definitely looking forward to experiencing.”
Bragging rights are at stake for fans of both Dundee clubs this week.
But with both sides eyeing a title charge – and just one automatic promotion place available – players on both sides of the divide are under pressure to deliver.
For Ness, with his grounding in the game at Ibrox, it’s a familiar scenario.
“We’re two clubs that don’t want to be in this league,” he said.
“But at the end of the day we’ll go there and try to show what we’re all about, and it’s something we’re really looking forward to.
“We’ve got a few Dundee boys in the squad, like Cammy Kerr and Finlay Robertson, so they’ll make sure all the new boys know what it means.
“But really I don’t think we’ll need to be told. These are massive games.
“We want to do well in them for ourselves and for the fans and we want to get promoted this year, so we’re going to need to win these games.
“Every week we’ve got that pressure on us – we’re going in looking to win every game.
“That’s a new experience for a few of the boys, but it’s one we will hopefully thrive under.”