| He’s reached the heights of scoring the winner in a Merseyside derby, but Danny Cadamarteri insists he’ll be taking the “floodlight derby”, supported by the Evening Telegraph, against Dundee as seriously as any Everton-Liverpool clash (writes Tom Duthie).
As United christen their new lighting system, the Englishman knows there will be around 35,000 fewer fans tonight than during his days at Goodison.
He is aware, though, of just how important this derby will be to supporters who turn out.
“I have played for Everton against Liverpool and I was lucky enough to get the winner against them a few years ago,” he said. “It’s one of the biggest derbies around, but I know from every other club I’ve been at that derbies matter as much to their fans as any of the big ones do.”
“This one is down as a friendly, but I know both sets of supporters will not see it that way and that will get through to the teams. Ourselves and Dundee will both be desperate to win and that definitely means there will be a bit extra to this game.”
With United putting together a strong squad for the SPL this season and Dundee doing likewise in the First Division, Cadamarteri also knows those involved tonight will be stalking a claim for places.
Having been on the bench for the last two league games, Cadamarteri himself is in that boat.
“We have a really strong squad right now and that means whenever you are given an opportunity to play you have to make the most of it. If you are not producing, there are other players ready to take your place, and you are going to see players in this game busting a gut to show their manager they should be playing every week.”
That’s what home gaffer Craig Levein wants and, although several players will be left out for fitness reasons, he wants to see a strong performance.
“Nicky Weaver has still not completely shaken of the thigh problem he’s had and Andy Webster was still suffering flu symptoms at the weekend, so I won’t be risking them,” said Craig. “Mihael Kovacevic and Morgaro Gomis took knocks at Kilmarnock, so they will not be playing either.
“I am still putting out as strong a team as I can and, like any derby, this is a game we want to win. One of my few regrets since coming here is I have not been involved in a game against Dundee.”
Ticket sales suggest a decent turnout and cash turnstiles will be in operation.
Craig stressed, with the receipts being split and going to the youth policies on either side of Tannadice Street, for fans turning up it would be money well spent. “Anything that boosts youth development has to be worthwhile. I’d love to be in a situation one day where I had the option of sending out a team entirely of local players.” |
