Dundee boss Paul Hartley is confident his summer signings from the lower leagues will be able to make the step up to Premiership football.
The Dens manager has once again revamped his squad in preparation for what will be his second full season in charge with nine players leaving the club while eight have come in.
Among the new arrivals are some such as Rory Loy, Daryll Meggatt, Kevin Holt and David Mitchell who have come from clubs in the Championship, while Julen Etxabeguren Leanizbarrutia spent the last campaign with East Fife in League Two.
However, Hartley pointed to the example of three other players who he brought in from the Championship to show they can be a big success in the top tier.
When asked if he was worried that the new arrivals could make the step up, Hartley replied: “Not really. I look at what Greg Stewart, Paul McGinn and Scott Bain did last year which proves they can handle it.
“You never know until they are playing if they are good enough or if they can cope with playing here.
“But they are three great examples for me and it is a good market.
“It is a calculated risk but every signing you make is a risk.
“But the likes of Rory Loy have also played at a good level in England’s League One.”
Hartley admits he is delighted with the signing business he has completed so far and he revealed that he has found it a lot less difficult to persuade players to come to Dens after the top six success of last season.
When asked if it had been easier to attract players this summer, he said: “100%. We are an easy sell now to players.
“They saw us in the top six rather than struggling at the bottom end so players want to come here.
“They also see the attraction of the derbies and the whole atmosphere surrounding them.
“They see the club wants to progress from last season.
“I have had good backing but we have had to balance things also.
“It is not as if we are just bringing player after player in, it has to work both ways for us.”