Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Latest From Malta...............

DUNDEE have former Carlisle United midfielder Neale McDermott with them at their Maltese training camp. McDermott (23), who had an unsuccessful trial period at Dunfermline in 2006, is the son of Liverpool legend Terry. The Dark Blues are also running the rule over Northern Irish central defender Sean Webb, once of St Johnstone, and an unnamed Czech midfielder. Defender Jim Lauchlan is a transfer target for both Dundee and Stirling Albion. Lauchlan is understood to have flown out to Malta to join the Dark Blues’ training camp but is also interesting Binos boss Allan Moore. The 31-year-old is looking for a new club after being released by Queen of the South. Dundee’s trialist midfielder Neale McDermott has jetted home from the training camp after suffering an abductor injury.

DUNDEE are hoping, in the course of today, to obtain a full diagnosis of the complaint which forced them to send Craig McKeown home from their Maltese training camp. Close season signing McKeown, who underwent hernia surgery for the third time in as many years this summer, had a scan yesterday after flying back to Scotland and is scheduled to visit a specialist this morning for the results. Manager Alex Rae will run the rule over trialist defender Jim Lauchlan in Friday’s friendly with Birkirkira.

Birkirkara 0 Dundee 0.
DUNDEE
could not break the deadlock at the Luxol Sports Club last night, playing out a goalless draw with Maltese Cup holders Birkirkara in the only match of their pre-season trip to the island. Jim Lauchlan had the Dark Blues’ best chance of the opening period but his header was well saved by the home keeper. Lauchlan was paired with fellow trialist Sean Webb in central defence and the pair went on to play almost the full game together. David O’Brien was posing problems for the Maltese backline and consecutive crosses around the half-hour mark both deserved to be finished off. Dundee goalie Ludovic Roy did well to save a shot hit from outside the box after a Birkirkara corner caused concern for the Dundee defence as the match headed towards the interval. The Dens men made six changes at the break, including the introduction of Bryan Deasley and Mickael Antoine-Curier to the attack. On 53 minutes, good inter-passing ended with Antoine-Curier mis-hitting his shot and the ball rolled harmlessly wide. Dundee had a claim for a penalty turned down four minutes later when sub Mark Gilhaney went down in the box, with the local referee waving play on. Summer signing Darren Young took the place of the trialist Czech midfielder on 73 minutes before Antoine-Curier had a decent strike well saved.
Lauchlan and Webb were replaced by Gary MacKenzie and Ross Grant then Roy had to dive full length as a Birkirkara shot went just wide in the closing stages.
Dundee—Roy, Cowan (Paton 46), Webb (Grant 81), Lauchlan (MacKenzie 81), Malone (Forsyth 46), Trialist (Young 73), McHale, Trialist (Dachin 46), O’Brien (Gilhaney 46), McMenamin (Antoine-Curier 46), Davidson (Deasley 46).
DUNDEE BOSS Alex Rae is not rushing to judgment on any of the four trialists who featured in the goalless draw with Birkirkara. Rae, who has arrived back safe and well with his squad from the 10-day trip to Malta, saw Jim Lauchlan, Sean Webb, a Czech midfielder and a Dutch striker play on Friday night against the local side. Now he wants to see them in further action before deciding whether or not to hand out contracts.