And, as has become the norm with modern professionals, he expects to have no issues with fitness levels.

“There will be some work to do on their fitness, you would expect that after a break, but the players will have been doing a bit of work during their holidays and they will be in reasonable shape,” he said.

“I would certainly expect that to be the case with the ones who were here last summer and the year before, because they know they’ve got a lot of hard work ahead of them and will want to be ready for it.”

Definitely missing what will be a tough programme of both games and training will be long-term injury absentees Jon Daly, Keith Watson and Kevin Smith.

All three, though, are on course to be working with the squad in a couple of months or so and the manager is regarding that as a bonus.

“It’s always disappointing when you have anyone missing at the start of pre-season, but, come September, it should be like adding three new players to the squad and that will give us a boost. In Jon Daly’s case, that will be very good news because, when he hurt his knee, we thought he was going to be out much longer than now looks likely.”

Craig was also remaining relaxed about star striker Fancisco Sandaza’s condition. He was flying in from Spain today to be assessed after complaining of a groin problem while doing some running back home.

“The doctor is going to have a look to see what it is, but, right now, I’m hoping it is not going to be anything too serious.”

Fitness was very much on the agenda today and, thanks to local shop, Nicholson’s Cycles, the players and staff will be able to work out on state-of-the-art bikes.

Bryn Williams from the well-known Stobswell shop was at Tannadice to donate three top-of-the-range mountain bikes that will largely be used to help players during their rehabilitation from injury.

They will also come in handy for club captain Lee Wilkie, whose history of knee problems means he does a large chunk of his fitness work in the saddle.

After breaking both elbows in a fall from his bike earlier in the summer, not surprisingly assistant manager Peter Houston was staying in the background as the bikes were delivered.

Season ticket holders are reminded this weekend is the deadline for renewing their existing seat for next season. After that, all reserved seating where tickets have not been renewed will be made available for general sale. Ticket prices are also increased with effect from July 6. The club shop will be open from 9 am-5 pm on Saturday, and tickets can also be renewed by phone or online.

By mid-morning, though, that had been resolved and the 24-year-old was whisked from Glasgow to Dundee to be paraded before the waiting media.

Harkins is signing No. 9 in a summer of furious activity and, hot on the heels of last week’s capture of teenager Leigh Griffiths from Livingston, takes Dark Blues backer Calum Melville’s lay-out on transfer fees alone to around £250,000.

More importantly for boss Jocky Scott, today’s events mean he has his No. 1 target.

He views Griffiths as a player with great potential, but sees Harkins as a man who can have an immediate and positive impact on the Dark Blues’ promotion drive in the new season.

After weeks of speculation, Harkins was delighted to finally secure his future, and admitted the summer signings at Dens had been a major factor in his decision to come.

“I think Dundee have shown they are going to have a right serious go at winning the First Division and I wanted to be part of that,” he said.

“I am glad everything’s done now and I’m just looking forward to getting out and starting to work with my new team-mates.”

While Harkins was driving across country, his new team-mates were hard at work again and, although temperatures were soaring into the 80s on the training pitch, there was little sympathy for their plight from gaffer Jocky.

“It is hot, but they’ve been coping well and doing all the work, and it is much better than training in the rain,” he said.

Although Saints boss Derek McInnes is delighted to have players gaining international recognition, the timing of this fixture is not ideal.

“Collin should be back in time for the Motherwell game, but it’s hardly the ideal preparation for him for our match,” Derek said.