GRECIAN MEN CATCH FANS’ EYES

This week, a tale of two Grecian men. Not of the ancient civilisation philosophising variety, but of those who need a bottle of dye should they ever want to return their hair to it’s birth colour.

First off, there is the White Feather, Silver Fox or Fab Rav as Dundee fans are calling Italian superstar Fabrizio Ravanelli.

On Wednesday night at Broadwood, the man whose barnet went grey when he was still in his early 20s, showed that, despite his advancing years — he will be 35 before the year is out — there has been no premature ageing when it comes to a football brain.

The legs might not be as sprightly as they once were, but, coming on against Clyde, Ravanelli looked sharp as a tack and, even this early in the season, it is safe to predict his six-minute hat-trick and scintillating performance will be one of the highlights of the campaign.

In his previous two run-outs, against Partick Thistle and Dundee United, this man-of-many clubs and even more headlines showed in flashes what a top-class performer he had been.

That he is past his peak is not in question, but what was suggested in these games was confirmed in that short spell on the park on Wednesday — namely that he remains a quality player.

What is just as pleasing to report is that off the park he comes across as quality, too. Inundated with requests for interviews from all sections of the media since his arrival in Dundee, he’s refused few and when he’s spoken has done so eloquently and enthusiastically.

No disrespect to my home city or Scottish football in general, but this is a man who has tasted life in more salubrious surroundings. To listen to him speak, however, you would think he had landed in the Garden of Eden.

He seems to love it here and is keen to tell that to anyone who will listen. So far, it has been a pleasure to have him.

The only unfortunate thing about his midweek supershow was that it was reserved for the CIS Insurance Cup.

To briefly go over old ground, what was the League Cup and once a fine competition is now surely past its sell-by date.

Just as pleasing to witness as Rava’s arrival has been the successful return to an old stomping ground of another player who now has more than a few grey hairs.

Like Ravanelli, Andy McLaren has had his travels and his troubles, but back at Dundee United on, for the moment, a short-term contract, the 30-year-old attacker has been a stand-out in recent games.

He was the sponsor’s Man-of-the-Match in the derby and, even allowing for a little home bias, it was not an undeserved accolade.

Despite taking more knocks than most during his career — though he himself would admit most of them were self-inflicted — McLaren has retained, or possibly even rediscovered, a great enthusiasm for his football.

That has been apparent in his performances since doing the prodigal act and heading back to Tannadice, where he is still fondly remembered for the role he played in the 1994 Scottish Cup win.

The way he has been playing, there must be every chance of his second spell at United becoming permanent, and, if his current form continues, there will be few complaints about that from those in the stands.

PREDICTIONS

Aberdeen v. Motherwell — DRAW.

Dundee v. Hibs — HOME.

Dunfermline v. United — HOME.

Hearts v. Livingston — HOME.

Kilmarnock v. Celtic — AWAY.

Rangers v. Partick — HOME.