Emile Acquah (right) of Dundee and Sam Dalby faced off in England. Dundee’s Emile Acquah hopes to emulate Sam Dalby in the Premiership this season. Dundee United’s former loan star is well-known to Dens Park’s new frontman.

Dalby joined the Dark Blues’ fierce rivals on loan from Wrexham last August, scoring 15 league goals for the Tangerines. The big Englishman became one of the division’s most lethal strikers before signing a lucrative contract with Bolton Wanderers this summer.

Acquah, meanwhile, signed a three-year contract with Dundee after leaving Barrow, and he has already scored in the League Cup against Bonnyrigg Rose.

Hibernian will call on him to make his Premiership debut on Sunday.

Dalby inspiration

Acquah is excited to see what the Scottish top flight is all about. And the big Dundee striker wants to emulate Dalby’s success last season, having seen plenty of him in their time in the National League.

In 2022/23, the two were rival strikers for Maidenhead and Wrexham, with Acquah scoring 13 goals and Dalby six. “I am excited to get going in the league and we are all looking forward to playing Hibs,” Acquah told the BBC.

“Obviously, we were disappointed with our performance in the cup, but after losing the first two, we managed to win two games, so hopefully this builds some momentum. “Dundee is a big club, so I’m excited to get started.

“I played with the gaffer’s son (Aaron Pressley) last season and spoke with him before coming here. “My agent has also seen a few players come up here and do well, so he believes it’s a good league to gain exposure in.

“I know Sam Dalby, who was with Dundee United last year. I’ve played against him a lot. “He did an excellent job, and I will try to replicate it. “I believe this is the ideal age for a striker like me. This is the age when you really get going. “So I’m hoping to do that this season.”

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