JORDAN EYES LEAGUE TITLE
Gardenhall ace aims to beat Hearts to glory
East Kilbride footballer Jordan McGhee aims to pip former club Hearts to lifting the Championship title next term with Dundee.
The Gardenhall defender has been named Dee captain for the upcoming season by gaffer James McPake, and can’t wait to lead out the team for the new league campaign.
However, wit h t he Ja mbos’ relegated from the top flight last term they go into the season as heavy title favourties.
The 24-year-old believes they have the quality to bring top flight football back to Dens Park.
“It ’s g o i ng t o be a di f f i c ul t league,” the former Duncanrig High School pupil told the News. “We know Hearts and the size of club that they are.
“I know myself from when I was playing there how Robbie [Neilson, Hearts boss] likes to work and set up his teams.
“We need to make sure we are on the ball to start the season, and I’m sure we will be.
“We want to give it a right good go. I believe that the players we have in the dressing room are good enough.
“A l ot of t hem have pl aye d in the Premiership and we are str i ving t o get back t o playing at t hat l evel. In my vi ew, t hi s league is harder to play in than the Scottish Premiership.
“It’s more blood and thunder in this league. You don’t get much time on the ball and any team can take points off anyone.
“Everyone in the dressing room knows the size of the club and there is no reason we shouldn’t be giving it our all to try and win the league.”
McGhee knows they will have to get off to a fast-start this term, with the season reduced to 27 games after the Covid outbreak.
He added: “We didn’t start the season as well last year.
“A f ew bad result s s hot our confidence, then we kept a few clean sheets on the bounce and built on that. But everyone of the boys is a top player and we’re all pulling in the same direction.
“With t he i mpact of Covid, the dressing room have had to pull together. We all want to do s o met h i n g p o s i t i v e f o r e a c h other; to drive each other through hard times.”
He hopes to repay boss McPake for the “real honour ” of being named skipper.
“It ’s one of t he bes t t hi ngs I’ve done in football,” he said. “Being captain of a club the size of Dundee is something I’ll treasure and remember forever.
“Now I want to lead the club back to the Premiership.”