The arrival of the Dundee full-back takes the signing tally to date to four — Dixon’s fellow-former Dark Blue Scott Robertson, German attacker Andis Shala and Celtic keeper Michael McGovern being the others.

Content as he is to have secured that quartet, Craig would like to add another two, possibly even three, players before the new season kicks off in August.

With an attacker being on his shopping list, he is well aware getting what he wants may not prove easy.

“I’m pleased to have another good young player on board and, as I was saying last week, Dixon is one I’ve known about for a few years and always liked,” said Craig.

“Generally, I’m happy with how the summer has gone and I do feel I have strength in depth. It is still a young squad, but, in most areas of the team, I am in a position where I know there is good cover.

“If I am standing after an hour of a game and want to make a change, I can look round and see players, like Dixon for example, on the bench who may be young but have something like 100 first-team games under their belt.

“Having that kind of experience to call on is important, but the one area I am not yet quite satisfied with is the striking department.

“I am working on a few things and some look promising, but last summer has taught me to be cautious. At one stage, I had something like six possible deals progressing well and, for one reason or another, they all fell through.

“In the end, I did not quite get what I wanted. That’s something I am determined won’t happen again this year, but there are no guarantees and it will take a lot of work.”

After a summer of speculation linking him to St Johnstone and Aberdeen, as well as United, Dixon was happy to have his future settled.

He said, “It’s good to know where I’ll be playing my football next season and now I can just concentrate on getting started with United.

“I’ve a lot to thank Dundee Football Club for because they gave me my start in professional football and I will never forget that.

“But this is a great chance for me to play in the SPL and to further my career, and that’s what I aim to do.”

Meanwhile, the man he was brought in to replace, Christian Kalvenes, is set to sign for home-town club Brann Bergen, from whom he joined United two years ago.

“Not now, not in Malta, not ever,” was the manager’s reaction when the latest talk of the 32-year-old joining up at Dens reached his ears.

Reporting today when the players arrived for the start of their pre-season work was one, as yet, un-named trialist, while another mystery man will meet up with the squad in England tomorrow and head out to the Mediterranean.

First thing this morning, the squad were put through a series of tests at Dens before heading out for the first session of the build-up this afternoon.

There will be more hard work in the morning before a bus journey to Manchester and an early-morning flight from Manchester on Wednesday.

Not taking part in full training for the first few days will be new signing Craig McKeown.

The former Clyde defender had a groin operation at the end of the season and is not quite back to 100% fitness yet.

“Craig is training, but not full out. All the players had a programme to follow when they were on holiday and, because of his op., he is just that wee bit behind,” explained Alex.

Meanwhile, Saints return to pre-season training on Thursday with a goalkeeper and a left-back among their other targets.