New Dundee loanee looking primed to set Dens Park alight

He’s only been a part of the furniture at Dens Park for less than a week, but it appears Dundee’s Riccardo Calder is introducing himself in style at the Ladbrokes Premiership club.

The 19-year-old arrived on a four-month loan from Aston Villa, having been a mainstay in the Premier League outfits’ under 21 side last term, making 21 appearances.

And in just the first few training sessions he is turning heads on the east coast.

“Riccardo has been absolutely brilliant in the couple of days he’s spent with us so far”, Dark Blues boss Paul Hartley told The Courier.

“Every time he got the ball we just encouraged him to be as positive as he can. He’s got genuine pace, and there was quality at the end of it. I’m really excited about him. He scared a couple of our defenders [already], that’s for sure,” he went on to say.

Used in a variety of positions from left-wing, to left-back, to central midfield, it appears that he will be getting the chance to push up the pitch during his time in Scotland.

The potency of the likes of Greg Stewart and Kane Hemmings will provide Calder plenty to aim for as he bombs down the wings around the country.

Using his pace and trickery it would be no surprise to see him land an assist or two before long at Dundee.

Part of the Aston Villa youth team that landed the 2013 NextGen Series, it would be no surprise to see him slot into the senior squad in the West Midlands were he to impress north of the border.

With Tim Sherwood at the helm, a man that gave Harry Kane his big break at Tottenham, don’t be surprised if the England under-17 international goes on to bigger things after his spell in Scotland.

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