Dundee’s return to Premiership football was a strong one.
Now Tony Docherty is tasked with shaping his squad for a second tilt at the top flight.
Could it be, as they say, the difficult second album?
Or more upward progress at Dens Park?
Recruitment has been impressive so far under Docherty and will need to be again this summer.
But what do Dundee need? And what do they want?
Goalkeeper
The Dark Blues are well stocked between the sticks. But there are question marks over all three goalkeepers right now.
Carson was clearly brought in to be No 1 last summer and when he’s been fit, he’s been it.
However, since the turn of the year he’s struggled with a knee injury and missed the final 11 matches of the campaign.
Harry Sharp, meanwhile, is at an age where he could do with some game time and may head back out on loan this season.
And we haven’t seen Adam Legzdins in action since going off early in a Scottish Cup defeat with Jon McCracken being brought in by Docherty not long afterwards.
That’s twice now McCracken has been signed on loan by Docherty. Now, though, he is a free agent after being released by Norwich City and both sides are open to a third reunion.
Another goalkeeper isn’t critical for Dundee but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen.
In squad: Trevor Carson, Harry Sharp, Adam Legzdins
Targets: Jon McCracken
Centre-back
Dundee have plenty of options at centre-back but it’s an area to improve upon.
Last season, the Dark Blues conceded far too many leads and far too many goals overall to be sustainable.
It’s likely skipper Joe Shaughnessy will also be missing for around half the upcoming season as he recovers from a cruciate ligament injury.
Docherty has said Ryan Astley will get more of a chance next season while Ricki Lamie was in and out of the team last term.
Lee Ashcroft will be back fit for the start of pre-season but it remains to be seen if he’ll be content at playing a backup role again this time around.
Jordan McGhee can play there but excelled at right wing-back last season. Antonio Portales was a regular when fit and will no doubt continue that.
If Docherty’s main plan is to go with a back three, he’d ideally want six options to cover absences.
With Shaughnessy out and McGhee on the right, that leaves four senior options plus youngster Luke Graham.
So expect that position to be a key place to strengthen this summer.
In squad: Joe Shaughnessy, Ricki Lamie, Antonio Portales, Ryan Astley, Lee Ashcroft, Jordan McGhee, Luke Graham.
Full-back
Full-back or wing-back is also a very important position to strengthen, particularly on the left side.
Owen Beck was a huge influence from that position last season. However, with he, Owen Dodgson and Aaron Donnelly all heading back to parent clubs Dundee don’t have any players for that position right now.
McGhee has stepped across there, so has Cammy Kerr on occasion, but that’s definitely a position in need of filling.
Docherty has already shown his desire to add at full-back after taking Dutchman Robin Lathouwers on trial for the final week of the season.
Usually a right-back, the 24-year-old can also play on the left. Lathouwers has been described as a speedy and aggressive player who can help in both attack and defence.
Whether or not a deal is done for the former AZ Alkmaar kid remains to be seen. However, it gives us an indication of Docherty’s plans this summer.
Club stalwart Kerr, meanwhile, will return from loan at Inverness but will struggle to displace McGhee at right wing-back.
In squad: Jordan McGhee, Cammy Kerr, Josh Mulligan
Targets: Robin Lathouwers
Central midfield
The most consistent part of Dundee’s team last season was the midfield trio of Mo Sylla, Luke McCowan and Lyall Cameron.
All three remain at the club, of course, but Malachi Boateng has now left while Max Anderson will return after a season at Inverness.
As it stands, central midfield is strong. However, such has been the impact of McCowan and Cameron this season, it is likely Dundee’s resolve to keep them will be tested by other clubs.
And it wouldn’t hurt to replace Boateng.
In squad: Mo Sylla, Lyall Cameron, Luke McCowan, Josh Mulligan, Fin Robertson, Max Anderson
Wide midfield/wingers
This is an area of the squad where Dundee are short. However, they rarely played with wingers last season.
Scott Tiffoney would be the choice in this position but was utilised in a front two alongside Amadou Bakayoko more often last term.
Charlie Reilly is back and will hope his injury hell is behind him. There are other options but would involve moving McCowan or Cameron from their strongest positions.
The likelihood is if a wide player is on the shopping list, it will be a versatile one who can slot in elsewhere.
In squad: Charlie Reilly, Scott Tiffoney, Luke McCowan, Lyall Cameron, Josh Mulligan
Forwards
Last season, Dundee scored more goals than previous Dee sides. However, there were also games where it was clear that more quality in forward areas could have turned losses into draws and draws into wins.
Bakayoko and Zach Robinson each scored six goals while Curtis Main didn’t get any and Diego Pineda was rarely used.
Michael Mellon, too, is back at Burnley. Though bringing him back as part of the Burnley link-up is a move Dundee are keen on.
They need more goals from the front players and a desire to bring in Bruce Anderson this summer has already shown Docherty is working on bringing in just that.
In squad: Curtis Main, Scott Tiffoney, Zak Rudden, Diego Pineda
Targets: Bruce Anderson, Amadou Bakayoko, Michael Mellon
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