Dundee new boy Dominic Shimmin hopes to enjoy being at the top end of the first division table next season after going through the relegation wringer.
The 22-year-old London-born central defender has joined the Dark Blues from Greenock Morton on a two-year-deal.
The Cappielow side went right to the wire before finally beating the drop and now Shimmin wants to be looking down on his rivals rather than up the way.
“I have played against Dundee for the last two years so know what it is all about,” he said.
“I like their players and I enjoyed playing against them. It will be even better playing with them.
“Leigh Griffiths was always a handful, every single time I played against him. He is a natural goalscorer and a poacher.
“Gary Harkins is another who is quality. I think they are easily the league’s best players.
“They should have won the league last year, definitely. It doesn’t always work out like that, of course, with the best team clinching the title.
“We just need to get the best out of the guys here.
“It’s not just about players, though. You need a good manager and I feel we have the right one in Gordon Chisholm to take us forward.
“I think this is the right place for me and I do feel we have the right squad to challenge for the title.
“You want to be at the top end of the league going into the last game trying to win the league rather than fighting to stay up.”GraduatedShimmin graduated from one of the top football academies in world football, that of the mighty Arsenal.
He has mixed with the stars at the London giants and is confident he can add quality to the Dundee side.
“I started off with a good education, having been at Arsenal for seven or eight years,” he added. “Hopefully, I can bring that to Dundee and use it well.
“I played in the same team as Cesc Fabregas for a few years. Obviously, I didn’t end up as he has but I am still on the young side and still think I can get to a decent level.
“I am from London but have been up in Scotland for the last two years. So I am starting to get used to the Scottish culture.
“I think I have proved myself to be one of the top centre-halves in this division so I think I can form a good partnership with whoever I am playing with.
“I am quick, aggressive and very calm on the ball. I like to be composed and hopefully being in this team will bring out the best in me.”
Dens boss Chisholm says he has yet to see Shimmin lose a one-on-one battle on the park.
“I am thrilled to have brought Dominic on board,” he said. “I’ve never seen anyone get the better of him any time I have seen him in action.
“He is young, hungry and fits the bill in terms of the kind of player I want to bring to the club.
“Dominic is at the right sort of age where he is desperate to succeed. He knows we want the best and is looking forward to the challenge.”