Pressley on Halliday, squad strengthening & cup motivation
- Published
Dundee head coach Steven Pressley has been speaking to the media before the Scottish Cup fourth-round trip to Kilmarnock this weekend.
Here are the key points:
Pressley says "there were a lot of pursuers" for new signing Brad Halliday, who has arrived on a two-and-a-half year deal from Bradford City and will bring great character plus a "wealth of experience".
The Dens boss hopes to further add to his squad, saying the "time to strengthen is at a time of strength" and it shows the players "we want to keep improving".
Despite allowing Emile Acquah to join Harrogate Town on loan, Pressley says "most definitely there is a place for him here" but stresses the importance of the striker going out to get regular game-time.
Pressley doesn't believe the narrow defeat to Hearts last time out will dent the positivity that had been building and insists "there is still a lot more to come from this group".
He is optimistic about his side's chances of making progress in the Scottish Cup, but "only if we play at the levels we have been over the last four or five weeks".
He adds: "It is 116 years since a Dundee side last won the Scottish Cup, so that has to be the motivation."
Pressley believes it is "very, very difficult to predict" what Killie will be like under new "very intelligent coach" Neil McCann, saying the focus has been on themselves.
Team news: Joe Westley is the only absentee through injury.