Callum Morris has promised that he will leave the fancy stuff to others when the new season starts.
The no-nonsense Dundee United defender has been a big hit at the heart of the backline all pre-season since signing from Dunfermline.
What you see is what you get from the 24-year-old Geordie and that means there will be few frills from him and fellow centre-back Jarek Fojut.
Instead, he and his Polish partner will happily win the ball and pass it on to the likes of Stuart Armstrong, Ryan Dow, Gary Mackay-Steven and Nadir Cifci to cause the opposition problems at the other end of the park.
Morris said: “I would like to think we are going to add some steel. Big Jarek has been brilliant since he’s come to the club and I’m really enjoying it too.
“I have been very pleased with how things are going. Since coming in, my aim has always been to stake a claim in the starting 11 for the first day of the season against Aberdeen.
“So I have been pushing as hard as I can and trying to give as good performances as possible. I think it’s been so far so good.
“Jarek and I have had two games together and I think our partnership is developing. And that will get better with the more games we play together.
“He is a big, aggressive lad who talks well throughout the game and is a bit older than me so comes with a lot of experience.”
“I would say we are both defenders first and foremost, rather than cultured defenders,” added Morris.
“We do like to pass the ball but we know what our aim is. Our job is to defend and that’s what we like to do. So if we can stop
people scoring then it’s a case of job done. Then the other lads in the team can hopefully go and do what they’re good at, which would make for a good combination.
“We would be happy with that and that’s what we’ll be aiming to do from the start of the season. Like strikers who like to score all the time, it means everything to defenders to keep clean sheets.
“That is what we will be judged on so obviously that is what we will be looking to do.”
Aberdeen have the small matter of tackling Real Sociedad in the Europa League tonight before they can fully focus on playing Morris and his mates on Sunday.
When the fixture does come around, though, the United man believes it will be a terrific curtain-raiser to the league campaign.
Morris said: “I think it’s a great game to start the season, even though it’s a massive challenge. It should lay down a marker for the rest of the season.
“I would definitely choose a tough start I’m not just saying that. It means you’ve got to be on the ball from the word go focused 100% and I would much rather have that.
“I watched a couple of the games between the two teams last season and there was always a bit of spice. They were good affairs.
“So I’m looking forward to sampling it for myself and hopefully helping the team get the three points.
“It will be a big crowd with a great atmosphere which is what we want. These are the kind of games you want to play in and we want to come out on top.
“It’s a league game first and foremost. It’s 11 v 11 and we’ll be wanting to win our individual battles as well as a group.
“We are all looking forward to it.”
Meanwhile, United are set to put goalkeeper Marc McCallum out on loan now they have signed Pole Michal Szromnik.
McCallum featured prominently for the team during pre-season but it will be left to Szromnik to fight with compatriot Rado Cierzniak for the No 1 spot.
“Marc McCallum has been exceptional in pre-season for us and we have high hopes for him,” said McNamara.
“I just felt that we wanted to get Marc more games. Last season he was unfortunate that he didn’t play often.
“Michal has played 60-70 games and for Poland’s under-21s so has that little bit more experience than Marc.
“So with Marc we feel we want to put him out on loan, get some game time and then come back and push for a place here next season.
“There is nothing in the pipeline but we are looking for somewhere suitable.”