Dundee’s Nicky Low has revealed that Joe Shaughnessy’s home cooking kept him out of the chip shop but now he’s looking to “batter” his former flat-mate in today’s Tayside derby with St Johnstone.
The duo became firm friends when they were with Aberdeen but both left for pastures new this summer.
They are still close with Shaughnessy set to play his part when Low marries fiance Natalie next year.
However, friendship will be forgotten when they go head to head for the first time at Dens.
Low, who made his competitive debut for Dundee as a substitute against United on Tuesday night said: “I spoke to Joe after the derby game.
“He texted me and said it was good to see me back.
“I’m good friends with him and we had a chat about the game.
“He’s actually going to be part of my wedding next summer.
“We’re close friends and I said to him that I’ll be kicking him, but he likes a tackle anyway.
“He’s my groomsman and my little brother, Corey, is my best man.
“Joe would have been my best man if it wasn’t for my wee brother.
Low added: “We go back a few years.
“It’s weird because I always used to wear tracksuits going into training and Joe was a posh boy from Galway.
“He said I was jumping about the dressing-room to his dad and he was going to stay away from that ‘wee guy in the corner’, meaning me.
“And it just works out that we ended up as best friends in Aberdeen and shared a flat for years.
“He was a good flat-mate. He did all the cooking and I just did a little bit of cleaning.
“He sorted the bills and I gave him the money.
“His special dinner was a stir-fry. That was his best. The big man was good to me to be fair.
“If he wasn’t the cook, I would have gone and got a chippy every night so I was glad to eat it.
“Hopefully now that I’m playing against him, I’ll try to kick him!”
Low spent five years at Pittodrie but like his pal Shaughnessy, he felt he had to move away in a bid to secure regular first-team football.
The 23-year-old said: “I think we both got to that stage at Aberdeen.
“We said to each other in the flat that you train Monday to Friday to play on the Saturday.
“We were just frustrated going back to the flat and not playing.
“So we decided we would need to leave to play regular football. Thankfully he’s got fixed up and so have I.
“I’m looking forward to the season ahead and helping Dundee progress.”
Low admitted he was delighted to get on in the derby and to experience the superb atmosphere as the Dark Blues came back from two goals down to secure a point.
He is now hoping Dundee can capitalise on that tremendous comeback when they face St Johnstone today.
Low said: “I felt good getting on in Tuesday night’s derby.
“It’s a great atmosphere. It was the first time I’ve played in a derby like that and the fans were outstanding.
“Coming from 2-0 down with 10 minutes to go in a derby is excellent.
“It feels good from that point of view because if we had lost we would have been going into Saturday’s game on a downer whereas we’ll take confidence going into it.”