Proper wingers at Dens is refreshing

AFTER watching Dundee for the first time this pre-season last night, it’s refreshing to see some proper wingers on show.

That’s the thing that stood out most for me from the 2-0 win at Brechin City, the impact the wide men had on the game, particularly in the first half.

With manager Neil McCann’s history as a winger himself, that’s maybe not that much of a surprise but since I’ve been covering Dundee, it is something they’ve sorely lacked.

Greg Stewart played on the right wing for the Dark Blues but his first instinct was always to cut inside on to his left foot.

Other than him, I can’t say there’s been too many who’ve really done the business on the flanks.

With new boy Roarie Deacon, it looks like they’ve found somebody who can fulfil that role.

The former Sutton United man has plenty of tricks and he showed with the opening goal, he can deliver a cross, too.

He laid Craig Wighton’s goal on a plate early on last night before Wighton himself set up Paul McGowan’s second after beating his man and crossing from the left.

And I have to say Wighton looked right on his game last night. Hopefully that’s a very good sign for the campaign to come.

Admittedly, it’s only one game — a pre-season game at that and one against a lower division outfit but it was good to see.

Coming on late, too, was Dutch winger Randy Wolters.

That’s my first sighting of him in the flesh and it’ll be interesting to see how he gets on.

What that shows is Neil now has some real options to choose from on the flanks.

You can add to that Mark O’Hara who played on the right a lot last season while Danny Williams impressed last night, too.

Playing as a left-back, the former Inverness man gave as good a showing as I’ve seen from him since signing last summer.

From the sounds of things, he’ll be understudy to Kevin Holt for the coming season but can obviously still be used as an out-and-out winger if needs be.

One thing is for sure, whoever is up front at Dens Park can expect some service from the flanks.

Dundee have been crying out for a winger who can beat his man, and Roarie Deacon certainly showed he’s capable.