Byrne: ‘Massive club’ Dundee is the perfect fit

DUNDEE midfielder Shaun Byrne believes playing his first competitive game at Dens Park tomorrow will v i nd icate h is decision to d rop dow n to t he Championship.

The 26-year-old, signed on a three-year deal from Livingston last month for a five-figure fee, passed up another season of top-tier football with the Lions to try to help the Dark Blues return to the Premiership at the first time of asking.

And the former Dunfermline man believes stepping out onto the pitch at Dens tomorrow, when Peterhead come calling in their latest Betfred Cup Group D game, will bring it home to him that he made the right call.

Coming off the back of their disappointing 3-2 bonus point penalty shootout win over Cove Rangers after a 0-0 draw i n normal time, Byrne is aiming to bounce back with a win over the Blue Toon.

“To be fair, I think we were pretty poor on Wednesday night considering the standard we’d set last Saturday (against Raith) and in pre-season,” he said.

“We just didn’t get going, had a couple of chances at the end but we weren’t good enough.

“It’s still a decent position to be in but it’s frustrating after Wednesday night. We set good standards and wanted to take that into the game but never got going.

“Every competition you play in you want to go as far as you can and this cup is no different to any other.

“Hopefully, we can get through into the next stage.

“It’s good there is a game around the corner quickly after Wednesday night and, hopefully, we can put it right tomorrow.

“Playing in front of a good crowd at home will be good.

“It’s a massive club Dundee and the way the manager sold the club to me it was really attractive and I’m delighted to be here.”

As much as Byrne has been impressed by the club, they seem to have taken to him well also.

He was handed the captain’s armband at the Balmoral Stadium on Tuesday night by Dee boss James McPake.

And being skipper is something the former Livi man relishes as he