MIDFIELD ace Declan McDaid has put pen to paper on a new one-year deal and will be relishing the prospect of an opening day Ladbrokes League One clash with former club Partick Thistle.

United will also face the Jags away in the Betfred Cup next month.

McDaid said: "I am really looking forward to playing against them. It will be good to see how I get on against them. I knew I can play at that level but just want to prove that to myself. I don't have anything to prove to Thistle.

The midfielder is aiming high.

He added: "Most of the boys have signed up and this is a good enough team to do well in the Championship and that was another reason I was happy to come back and stay, We want to finish as high as we can. I don't see why we can't make playoffs."

Boss Ian McCall is hopeful McDaid can do well and added: "We are confident he can progress and produced like he did last season. he has real competition in that area from Alan Forrest and Craig McGuffie."

Meanwhile skipper Ross Docherty is looking to get off to a good start when the Honest Men host the Jags in the opening Ladbrokes Championship match on Saturday, August 4.

Docherty is recovering from a hip injury which kept him out for half of last season. However he hopes to be back training next month and ready for the start of the league campaign.

He said: "It will certainly be a tough game against Thistle, who will feel they have something to prove after just being relegated. But it will be a really big day for us as the League One flag will be unfurled and we will be looking to put on a show and make sure we get a result in the opening game. We are at an Inverness the following week and it's good to get one of the Highland roads trips out of the way early.

"The important thing this season is to try and and make sure we get off to a good start. Last time in the Championship we lost our first two games heavily and we must make sure that doesn't happen again. I am feeling okay, progressing well and should be back training next month. I'm confident I will be back for the Partick Thistle match, which is one to look forward to."

Meanwhile Chris Higgins is also recovering well for injury and should also be in line for a return on August 4