WARREN FEENEY has spent his whole footballing career south of the border but throughout it he has steadfastly refused to become afflicted by the snobbish attitude so often directed towards the Scottish game.
The striker, currently on loan at Dundee United from Cardiff, has often heard people decry the standard of the Premier League but when the opportunity to move to Tannadice arose there was only one possible answer in his mind.
Feeney, 27, not only
thinks he has joined a team on the up but is firm in his belief that he's joined a country also making great strides forward in footballing terms.
As a member of the current Northern Ireland team, and who played against Spain in their famous 3-2 victory at Windsor Park two years ago, the former Stockport and Bournemouth player – a lifelong Rangers supporter – is well-qualified to remark on rapid improvements.
He sees resurgent forces not only north of Tannadice Street, but also throughout Scottish football as a whole.
"Scottish football is a high standard, there's no question about that," he said.
"Look at the Championship, there are loads of teams starting to look in the SPL and even the First Division for players.
"At Cardiff we have Gavin Rae, Stephen Thompson, Kevin McNaughton and they've just signed Ross McCormack as well.
"Burnley have signed a couple of boys from up here and there are plenty of other lads at good sides down in England.
"There was a time when folk would say 'I don't fancy going to Scotland' but that's definitely not the case now – not for me anyway.
"You just need to look at the Scottish national team – 14th in the world – and the Old Firm doing well at the highest levels in Europe to see the game in this country is on the up.
"I've always watched Scottish football and think people have been harsh about the standard in previous years.
"The SPL has improved steadily and, for me, it's every bit as good as the Championship.
"Down in England the game is a million miles an hour and it's really physical whereas from what I've seen up here it's not so based on that."
Feeney has been with United only a month but already he's tuned in to the club's way of working.
Craig Levein, the manager, has instilled a willingness to graft and it is this approach, coupled with the gusto with which United's fearless young players approached the recent friendly against Barcelona, that has convinced the striker a successful season lies ahead.
"I've been really impressed by the work ethic and team spirit at this club," said Feeney.
"It was evident as soon as I walked through the door but, for me, the lead-up to the Barcelona game showed me what the players here are all about.
"There are a lot of young boys here and when you're facing players like (Lionel] Messi and (Thierry] Henry, it's maybe natural to be a bit apprehensive even though it is just a friendly.
"But everyone, right down to the youngest kids, were treating it like it's just 11 against 11 and although they respected them they had confidence in their own ability.
"It's good to see and that's definitely given me loads of hope for the season ahead."
At 27, Feeney is in the prime of his football life but in the scheme of things at Tannadice he's definitely one of the older heads in the dressing-room.
Levein has purged the playing staff to such an extent in his two years with the club, consciously carving down the average age, that even 24-year-old Sean Dillon is considered a senior pro.
Feeney explained: "This is a really young team, I didn't realise that until I actually arrived here.
"Look at Sean Dillon, he's 24 years of age but he plays in the older team when we're having a match in training. It's frightening.
"I'm actually one of the older players and I'm only 27!
"It's great though, there's so much enthusiasm and the fact that a big chunk of the young lads are around the same age helps as well because they're all really close.
"It's good to be one of the older guys in the squad because I think I do have some experience to pass on and if I can help the likes of Andis Shala, David Goodwillie or Johnny Russell learn a thing or two then I'd be delighted with that."
FORMBOOKFINE FETTLE OR FAIRLY BRITTLE? Battered by Barcelona, but that's no shame. Interesting to see how Spanish signing Francesco Sandaza gets on. Craig Levein signed the striker on the strength of a DVD. "A unique step for me," said Levein. Amazing, the power of video editing.
MYSTIC KEV No reason why United can't have another strong season. The fans will be pleased to see Willo Flood back . Top six surely and a serious challenge for a European place.
IF THEY WERE A TV SHOW Pretty soon Lorraine Kelly will be presenting LK Today from Tannadice.
TITLE ODDS 150/1
BOGEYMEN Couldn't get the better of Hibs last time round, and Hibs couldn't get the better of United. Four times they drew, dropping eight points each, by our arithmetic.
IN Scott Robertson (Dundee, free); Michael McGovern (Celtic, free); Andis Shala (Mannheim, free); Paul Dixon (Dundee, £25,000); Willo Flood (Cardiff, loan); Warren Feeney (Cardiff, loan); Francesco Sandaza (Valencia, free).
OUT Euan McLean (St Johnstone, free); Christian Kalvenes, (Burnley, free); Steven Robb (St Mirren, free); Mark Kerr, (Aberdeen, free); Noel Hunt (Reading, £600,000).
The full article contains 943 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
