And the next 24 hours could see backer Calum Melville getting his cheque book out again and splashing £150,000 on long-time target Gary Harkins of Partick Thistle.

It was Kerr who was the first of the week’s arrivals. He joined in with the rest of the new-look squad before undergoing a medical and penning a three-year deal.

Both the quality of the new signing and the length of his contract were reason for boss Jocky Scott to smile.

“Kerr is a quality player. He belongs in the Premier League and he’s come here because he matches our ambition to get back there as soon as possible,” said Jocky.

“In all truth, his career had a bit of a dip, but he was back playing well at Inverness last season and we will be looking for him to continue that here.

“He’s on a three-year deal and that means we have managed to turn around a situation where we had something like 15 players out of contract this summer to one where we have that same number out of 23 tied up for a minimum of the next two years.”

And Jocky is optimistic the next few days will see Harkins on board as well — a price has still to be agreed, but the clubs are now close enough to an agreement for permission to speak to the player’s agent, Kenny Moyes, to have been given.

“I’ll have spoken to Ian McCall (Thistle boss) before the day is out and I am hopeful something will be sorted out,” added Jocky.

“So far, we have not spoken directly to the boy, but we have been able to outline to Kenny Moyes what our ambition is and what role we see him playing here.”

If Harkins is signed up, that could see an end to the summer of signings, though Jocky would not rule out more arrivals before the season kicks off against Morton on August 8.

“We are close to getting there and, if these deals are done, we might be there. I have to be mindful that we are making a lot of changes to the squad and we have to get players bedded in.

“What is likely now is we will work with the group and, once we start playing games, we will decide if there are one or two others we need to be bringing in.”

Heading out of Dens Park today was Canadian international Chris Pozniak. Told at the end of the season he was free to leave, he has taken up the option.

Just to make things tougher, it is mid-season in Ireland so all the opposition should be at peak fitness, but that is exactly as Craig would like it.

“It will be a tough trip for the boys, but they are young and fit, and I am sure they will handle it,” he said.

“These are the kind of games we are looking for, and going over there did us a lot of good last summer.”

The United players will report back for pre-season training on Friday.

Saints started pre-season training today. Having snapped up Dave Mackay and Murray Davidson from Livingston, and Kenny Deuchar from Hamilton, manager Derek McInnes is keen to add more new faces, but had nothing to report.

As well as working out at McDiarmid, Saints will spend a week training at a complex in Warwick.