There is a lot of negativity around Dundee right now.
Of course, that’s always going to be the case after relegation. Even more so after a season so poor.
There are a lot of problems for John Nelms and, in particular, Gordon Strachan to sort out.
But, despite the dark, dark clouds over Dens Park, the past few weeks have seen a silver lining emerge.
Josh Mulligan, Harry Sharp and Max Anderson are that silver lining.
Backed up by Fin Robertson and Lyall Cameron with slightly older talents like Zak Rudden and Luke McCowan, Dundee’s future looks youthful.
Josh Mulligan
I’m delighted to see Mulligan coming to the fore.
In fact, the end of the season probably came at the worst possible time for the youngster.
His team was sinking but he was absolutely flying.
Ever since that header found the underside of the bar against Hibs, there’s been no stopping him. And that goal didn’t even count!
I think it just suddenly clicked in his head that he could do it in the Premiership.
He could’ve ended up with a hat-trick against the Hibees and then followed that up with another well-timed header at Livingston.
With the power and pace he has, if Mulligan keeps up that kind of form going into the next season, he’ll run right over the top of most Championship teams.
Max Anderson
Anderson’s form has been more consistent over the entire season.
He’s done great for a player getting his first taste of the Premiership.
Though, the ability is absolutely there to make even more of an impact.
The running ability stands out but his close control and knack of finding good positions could turn him into a star.
After a year in the top flight, he’ll return to the second tier a much more rounded player.
Harry Sharp
Harry Sharp, meanwhile, has come out of the blue a little.
Third choice and only thrown in through necessity, the young goalie flourished.
Now he’s had a taste, Adam Legzdins and Ian Lawlor ahead of him will have their work cut out to keep him in third choice next season.
Fin Robertson
We all know the ability Fin Robertson possesses as well. For him, though, we’re heading for a crunch moment in his time at Dundee.
I hoped we’d see him get a run-out at Livingston on Sunday but he was left on the bench.
His last Dundee appearance came in the 6-0 thrashing at Celtic back in August.
It is a huge summer for the 19-year-old with just one more year left on his contract.
The young team
Lyall Cameron I expect might be a squad player in the Championship next term and there are high hopes for him.
I mentioned Rudden and McCowan for a reason earlier, too.
That pair have goals in them, particularly in the second tier. McCowan had a great first half of the season but couldn’t find that form again in the second half.
Get him firing and the Championship better watch out.
Rudden, too, has shown his ability in the final couple of matches and has experience of scoring goals in the Championship.
Overall, things are bad at Dundee right now.
But there is serious talent on the verge of exploding at Dens Park.
