Dundee star Finlay Robertson has promised a special goal celebration for his Dundee United-supporting pals if he nets in the derby.

The midfielder came through the Dark Blue ranks but many of his friends in the city are of a tangerine persuasion. Robertson knows they will be in the away end at Dens Park giving him dog’s abuse and he is hoping to have the last laugh with a Dundee win. He said: "A lot of them are actually United fans. They were giving me pelters from the shed! That comes with it. Hopefully if we score I can give them a little celebration."

Robertson only previous derby experience came back in 2019 when it was a share of the spoils at Tannadice. He recalled: “I think I've only played in one derby when I was 17. That was at Tannadice. We drew that game 1-1, Graham Dorrans scored the equaliser.

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"The atmosphere is unbelievable. It's great for the city. When you're young you don't really think about anything. It's just another game. That was brilliant. It was all that I've ever dreamed of as a young boy, playing in a Dundee derby.

"This will be the first derby at Dens Park for me. When you're at home you've got to use the advantage with the fans and the crowd.

"It should be a good spectacle. We need to feed off them. Start the game well and take it from there. Absolutely. I've seen a few wins from the stands when I was a fan.

"You can't really match that feeling in football. You can beat other teams, but when you beat your rivals it's totally different. Hopefully I can be part of a winning team now."

Former manager James McPake gave him his Dundee derby bow but then admitted he should have blooded him in the fixture months earlier. He admitted: "The first one was at the start of the season. I was still 16 then.

"I was disappointed. He pulled me in on the Friday morning and told me I wasn't playing. I was a bit devastated, to be honest. I'd played the previous games before that. I hadn't been dropped.

"It wasn't the best feeling but that's football. You've just got to take it on the chin. That's football. It's in the past.”

Watching the derby from the stands is nothing new to Fin and the Robertson family. His favourite is the same as most Dundee fans, back in 2016. He claimed: "Probably when we relegated them at Dens Park.

"That was probably my favourite! I was in the stand for that. Me and my dad Stuart were up in the Bobby Cox. That's probably my favourite derby memory. I was about 14, not much younger than Craig Wighton.

"I've known Craig since I was a young boy and obviously he scored the winner. That was quite unbelievable and I was there to see it. He's a local legend for that and it was definitely a good day."

It is a busy time and once the hectic winter schedule is out of the way then he can look at his future. Robertson has made it clear he is happy at Dundee, as long as there is a pathway to first-team football.

He confirmed: "We're speaking. Obviously there's been a lot of games going on. So I've got to put it to the side a little bit and focus on getting the results first. Then that will come after I'm sure.

"Talks are always going on with the majority of players. There's quite a few of us now. I'm sure it will be all good.

"I just want to play every week if I can. Obviously it's not always possible in football. I'm just trying to do the best I can and consistently play to take it from there."

Dundee go in without Antonio Portales, Scott Fraser, Joe Shaughnessy and Charlie Reilly, while Billy Koumetio and Jordan McGhee will be given until the last minute.

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