Club captain Sean Dillon makes no secret of the fact he’s delighted fellow-Irishman Willo Flood is back at Dundee United.
When he lists them, his reasons to be cheerful about the 31-year-old’s return on a one-year deal seem endless.
For all that, to Dillon there’s only one that matters.
“Look, I’m really happy to see him here and I won’t hide that,” he said.
“Willo and I have known each other since we were kids, we’re from the same part of Dublin and we played together for Ireland at youth level.
“He’s a good friend, we live in the same area just now, we’ve been on holiday together and our families get on very well.
“We’ll be travelling in to training each day, like we have each of the four times he’s come to United, I’ll enjoy that.
“All of that’s great for me but what is most important by a long way is we have signed a player who is quality.
“Willo will bring a lot to the team and the dressing-room, like he has everywhere he’s been. That’s what matters most to me and the fans.”
And Dillon has already warned his team-mates Flood won’t just bring high standards, he’ll demand them.
“Obviously there have been stories for a few weeks now about him coming and maybe I’ve known a bit about what was going on, but it wasn’t for me to speak about.
“Some of the other lads have been asking what I know and all I told them is if they think I moan a lot wait until they hear Willo!”
He’s quick to stress for United fans, that’s the good news.
“What we’re getting in Willo is a player who can break things up when the other team has the ball and can make things happen when we have it.
“He gets around the park well and he gives his all in every game. He’s a talker, too, and that’s a good thing.
“He demands high standards and I’m sure that’s part of the reason why the manager wanted him.
“The gaffer’s made it clear he wants everything done to a high standard all the time and Willo’s the same.”
For Dillon, United’s latest addition marks the perfect end to what he believes has been a very good build-up.
He’s looking forward to the competitive action starting in the League Cup at Arbroath tonight and is convinced the Tangerines are ready.
“It’s been a shorter pre-season this year and we’re starting with the League Cup and not the league but it will be good to get going.
“We didn’t go away this summer like we have in previous years but it’s not been an issue and until it was mentioned just there I hadn’t even thought about that.
“The facilities we have at St Andrews are superb and the games we’ve had have been good.
“The only difference has been we’ve gone home at the end of each day and haven’t been together in a hotel for a week or two.
“You maybe lose something in that way and I haven’t heard the new arrivals sing like we usually make them do but it’s not a problem.
“There’s been no breaks for travelling or stuff like that and the work has been very concentrated. We’ve done what we need to do.
“Now it’s nice to be looking forward to a competitive game, though I have to say I never approach the pre-season games any differently.
“You’ll call them friendlies or bounce games but I don’t like that. You prepare properly for every game and during them you look after yourself.
“For me, Arbroath is another game to look forward to and try to win.”
This article originally appeared on the Evening Telegraph website. For more information, read about our new combined website.