St Johnstone summer recruit Sean Higgins has admitted he may require patience to grab his chance at McDiarmid Park.
The former Dundee man was the first signing made by Derek McInnes in the close season.
But after the late arrival of attackers Fran Sandaza, Marcus Haber and Cillian Sheridan, Higgins finds himself one of seven strikers fighting it out for first-team starts, with Dunfermline in Perth on Saturday.
Higgins has bounced back from a knee injury which curtailed his season at Dens Park but said, “I feel as if I am getting my sharpness back but there is a lot of competition and there will be times when I will be frustrated. But it is a team game.
“All I can do is keep fit, train and play well and make it difficult for the manager not to include me in his plans.
“I need to establish myself here.”
He added, “We have a good squad and the gaffer has brought in a few boys so I might have to be patient. But I’ve settled in quickly and I’m looking forward.
“I think we can go well this season. The boys here last season did very well to finish eighth and our aim has to move up the table from there. That would be progress.”
Higgins is hoping for a more stable campaign after being caught up in Dundee’s financial troubles, which cost the Dark Blues any chance of promotion.
He said, “Last season was difficult with the club going into administration.
“That was an experience I will never forget. It made me grow up.”