Dundee manager Tony Docherty hailed Michael Mellon after the striker capped a fine debut with a goal and two assists in a 4-1 victory at Livingston.
The on-loan Burnley player only entered the pitch as a substitute in the 61st minute but that was still enough time to set up Luke McCowan and Zach Robinson either side of a penalty from Livingston forward Tete Yengi.
Amadou Bakayoko opened the scoring in the 19th minute and Mellon wrapped up the scoring with a finish from outside the box late on.
Docherty, whose side are now 13 points clear of basement side Livingston, said: “He was outstanding.
“I’m not surprised either. He played over 28 minutes I think and got two assists and a goal.
“I know what he is. It’s the reason we waited and went to such lengths to get him.
“It’s great credit to the relationship the board have with Burnley.
“He had so many suitors and you could see why.
“For Luke McCowan’s goal, there is a real calmness. For Zach Robinson’s goal, he chases a lost cause and gets an assist and then his goal was outstanding.
“Really pleased but not surprised.
“I know what he’ll bring to the team.”
Dundee also had to overcome the loss of McCowan to a second yellow card in the 74th minute when they were leading 2-0.
McCowan later apologised to Docherty for his cynical trip on Yengi that led to his dismissal but Docherty was thrilled with how his team responded after throwing away a two-goal lead in the defeat to Hearts on Tuesday evening.
Docherty added: “I’m absolutely delighted with the team’s resilience, spirit and mentality.
“My team came in for a lot of criticism on Tuesday night at Hearts and questions were asked about the mentality of the team.
“I thought my players answered that in spades today.
“The resilience of the group was there for all to see.”
Livingston – without a victory in 14 league games – remain six adrift at the basement ahead of Tuesday’s crucial bottom of the table clash with Ross County.
Manager Davie Martindale said: “We don’t want to speak too much about what goes on in the changing room.
“But, we’ve had these discussions throughout the season – and we don’t seem to be getting any better, if I’m being honest.
“I’ve tried everything over 23 games to lift the group. I’ve tried everything, done everything.
“But as individuals I think we’ve got to look at ourselves.
“Individuals now need to start taking their individual responsibility.
“There’s too many ‘sorrys’…every week there’s a ‘sorry’.”
Mourinho in 'negotiations' with Fenerbahce over head coach vacancy
Jose Mourinho has "started negotiations" with Fenerbahce over becoming their new head coach, the Turkish Super Lig side has confirmed.
The 61-year-old is reportedly nearing a return to management, five months after he was sacked by Roma.
Fenerbahce are searching for a new boss after parting company with Ismail Kartal on Friday, after he guided them to a second-place finish behind Galatasaray - amassing an impressive 99 points.
And the Yellow Canaries revealed on public disclosure platform KAP - as part of a legal process to alert investors - they are in talks with the decorated Portuguese coach.
"Our company has started negotiations with Jose Mario Dos Santos Mourinho Felix for the post of Football A team coach," the Fenerbahce post read.
Turkey would be the fifth different country in which Mourinho has managed, with the former Real Madrid, Chelsea and Inter coach winning eight domestic titles across four different nations.
He has also won five major European competitions during his managerial career - including two Champions League crowns with Porto and Inter - while guiding Roma to their maiden continental triumph in the inaugural Europa Conference League two years ago.
Al-Hilal 1-1 Al-Nassr (5-4 pens): Ronaldo and company lose chaotic King's Cup final
Al-Nassr lost a dramatic Kings' Cup final featuring three red cards against Al-Hilal on Friday, with the Saudi Pro League champions claiming the treble with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win.
Former Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic peeled away to the back post to head home the opener after just seven minutes, before Cristiano Ronaldo was denied by Yassine Bounou.
Al-Nassr looked to be imploding when David Ospina was sent off for a wild lunge on Malcom outside his penalty area shortly after half-time, but it was 10 versus 10 when Ali Al Bulayhi received his second yellow card late on.
Aiman Yahya took advantage to equalise in stoppage time, before Al-Hilal lost a second centre-back to a red card, Kalidou Koulibaly receiving his marching orders when he clattered into substitute goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah.
Neither team could find an extra-time winner, though, and it was Bounou who came up with the goods in the shoot-out.
He pushed Meshari Al Nemer's tame kick onto the post after Ali Al Hassan and Saud Abdulhamid had traded misses, claiming the trophy for Al-Hilal.
Data Debrief: Domestic sweep for Al-Hilal
Having also won the Saudi Super Cup and the Saudi Pro League, going unbeaten throughout their league campaign, Al-Hilal capped a perfect domestic season with their 11th King's Cup. Only Al-Ahli (13) have won the competition more often.
Al-Nassr, meanwhile, have now gone four seasons without a domestic trophy, with August's Arab Club Champions Cup all they have to show for their efforts in 2023-24.
Bayern Munich confirm shock appointment of Kompany
Bayern Munich have confirmed the appointment of Vincent Kompany as their new head coach.
Kompany has joined Bayern on a three-year deal, and comes in as Thomas Tuchel's replacement.
The former Manchester City captain, who began his coaching career in Belgium with Anderlecht, could not keep Burnley in the Premier League in 2023-24.
Indeed, the Clarets were relegated following a 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest at Turf Moor in their penultimate match of the season.
Yet, less than two weeks after the campaign's conclusion, Kompany has been installed as boss of one of Europe's biggest clubs.
The 38-year-old joins Bayern after Tuchel confirmed talks over potentially reversing the decision for him and the club to part ways, which came in February, had ended.
Bayern lost their last game of the Bundesliga season to finish in third place, having failed to win any of the four trophies they were in contention for, seeing their dominance of Germany's top tier ended by Xabi Alonso's unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen team.
Alonso had been Bayern's primary target, but their former midfielder has elected to stay at Leverkusen for next season.
Bayern were also linked with Roberto De Zerbi, who has just left Brighton, and Brentford coach Thomas Frank, while they were turned down by Austria coach Ralf Rangnick. Mauricio Pochettino, who left Chelsea on Monday, was also rumoured as a potential option.
Kompany, then, is a surprise pick, but Bayern will be hoping he rediscovers the magic touch he had during his first season at Turf Moor in 2022-23, when he guided the Clarets to promotion from the Championship, earning 101 points in the process.
However, Kompany's possession-based, front-foot approach was badly exposed in the Premier League, with Burnley winning just five games on their way to taking 24 points as they finished 19th, going back down alongside Luton Town and Sheffield United.
He leaves Burnley having managed 96 games, winning 41 (42.7 per cent) of those matches.
In a statement, Burnley said they were "initially confident" of keeping Kompany at the club, but claimed "the changing dynamics of the situation made this impossible".
"We understand the allure and prestige of a club like Bayern Munich and respect Vincent's ambition to explore new opportunities," the statement continued.
"We wish only the best for Vincent and would like to put on record our appreciation for his dedication every single day he was a part of this football club.
"Our priority remains the stability and success of Burnley, and we will continue to take the necessary steps to ensure that our ambition is realised, namely our return to the Premier League."
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