Mullen aiming to prove his worth

Striker hopes to use his second tier experience to help Dark Blues’ title bid

Mullen, who will wear the number nine jersey, will already have won over some fans after his play-off goal helped keep the Buddies in the Premiership at the end of season 2018-19 at the expense of rivals Dundee United.

Meanwhile, former Dens loan ace Christophe Berra insists he is ready to revive his Hearts career after being unceremoniously axed by former boss Daniel Stendel.

Berra, 35, remains baffled by the German’s decision to strip him of the captaincy and farm him out on loan to Dundee in January, emphasising that he was willing to fight for his place.

He was excellent for McPake’s side, who kept five clean sheets in six games featuring the veteran stopper.

But Berra will go up against the Dark Blues with the Jambos in the Championship this season after reporting back for duty following the shutdown with renewed confidence.

The defender, who is contracted to Hearts until next summer, is determined to battle his way into the plans of returning head coach Robbie Neilson, his ex-Tynecastle team-mate, and prove that age is no barrier.

Reflecting on his enforced exile, Berra told the BBC: “I could understand if I was a bad egg but I’m not.

“I was happy to stay and fight for my place but the manager came in and you’ve got to respect his decision.

“I went to Dundee and, looking back, that was a great thing for me. I played in six games, undefeated, kept five clean sheets and enjoyed my football.

“I know I can still play at a good level. I don’t care about age – if you are learning every day, putting in the shift and performing well then you can play far beyond your years.

“I’ll do my utmost in training and, come the first game of the season, if the manager decides to pick me, then great.

“There are no guarantees in football no matter who you are. It’ll be down to me, in terms of how I perform in training and pre-season games.”

Dundee and Hearts go head to head at Tynecastle on October 17, the Championship’s opening day, and Berra acknowledges the capital club are favourites for the title.