Ryan Conroy will return to Dens Park with Raith Rovers this evening eager to show his old club what they are missing.
The 27-year-old was a first-team regular during his three years on Tayside but, after helping the Dark Blues to promotion for a second time in May, was told by new manager Paul Hartley he was surplus to requirements.
With a year still left on his contract, the former Celtic winger might have been looking forward to a season in the Premiership. Instead, he is bidding to make the most of life still in the Championship with Raith and is hopeful of relishing his quick-fire return to Dens.
The former Scotland under-21 internationalist said: “I’m looking forward to going back. It’s just another game of football but there’s a wee bit added to it because it’s my old club.
“Going back to an old club has worked out for a few people in the past and hopefully it can work out for me.
“I was there for three years and felt I did well when I was there. I scored a few goals and helped them win the league in my first season.
“We had a year in the SPL, which was hard, but I thought I still gave a good account of myself in my time there. But that’s football, managers make their decisions.
“I would have liked to have stayed there to get another crack at the Premiership but that wasn’t to be and I just have to get on with it.
“A big part of me leaving was making sure I went to another club where I was appreciated and where I wanted to come and play football, and I’ve got that at Raith.
“I’ve started off well and hopefully I can keep continuing that for the rest of the season as well.
“If we could beat Dundee, a Premiership team now, it would build confidence for the league.
“That would only be good for us. We’ll give a good account of ourselves and hopefully get the win against them.”
Raith have already suffered a blow in cup football this season, losing out 1-0 to Fife rivals Dunfermline in the Petrofac Training Cup earlier this month and at the same time falling at the first hurdle as holders of the trophy they won with victory over Rangers last season.
However, the Kirkcaldy outfit defeated Dundee and Hibs on the way to their quarter-final defeat by St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup last term and have also enjoyed big knock-out ties against Hearts and Celtic in recent times.
Manager Grant Murray is hopeful of another successful cup run.
He said: “I think it’s important for clubs like ourselves. We want to progress in cup ties and build up a bit of confidence. If you’re progressing in cups it’s because you’re winning games of football.
“Since I came to the club, cup ties have been important for the club, they’ve generated money and TV coverage. But, first and foremost, we want to go up and win the game.”