Michael Duberry on St Johnstone debut

Feb 9 2010 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

MICHAEL Duberry yesterday thanked Mr Dependable Dave Mackay for easing him through his first game in Scottish football.

The 34-year-old defender, secured by manager Derek McInnes in a surprise, headline-hitting move 24 hours before the cup derby exit at the hands of Dundee United, has a wealth of Premiership experience and English and European battle honours from his Chelsea days.

But he was delighted that summer signing Mackay was on the same wavelength as they squared-up to one of the best teams in Scotland.

Duberry, who will make his SPL debut tomorrow at Paisley, said: “Cuptie did really well. Obviously it was the first time we’d played together but when he gave me the run down on the players Jody Morris told me he’d been the team’s most consistent performer this season. It didn’t look like a defence which had been put together at the last minute.

“I thought our communication was excellent. And that is vital in any central defensive partnership. I thought we dealt well with the United attack. The only problem I felt we might have was at set pieces because they are a big side.

“I’m really happy to be back playing but obviously the game didn’t pan out the way I’d hoped.

“In my head it was going to be a debut win, a clean sheet and maybe even a dream winner. Obviously it didn’t work out that way so that was disappointing.

“I don’t want it to sound like sour grapes but we had a blatant penalty kick denied.

“On the positive side, it was great to get back playing competitive football in front of a crowd for the first time since December and when I came off the park at the end my body felt in good shape.”

Duberry’s commitment to the cause was underlined by a seven-hour drive through the night to make sure he could train with his new teammates on Friday. He had secured a release from League One side Wycombe Wanderers on deadline day to pave the way to a move north plotted by Derek McInnes and long-time friend Morris, a teammate at Chelsea and Leeds United.

Friday night in his hotel room was spent mulling over a dossier on United prepared by the Perth management.

And Duberry admits he’ll have plenty of reading matter in the weeks ahead, with his knowledge of SPL football pretty sketchy.

“That dossier was typical of the professionalism of the club I’ve come into. I was given the package to go through and it helped enormously. All the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition were highlighted. That’s what the top, top players expect when they are preparing for games. So it was good to go in prepared for what United would throw at us.”

Now Duberry is set to make his SPL debut against St Mirren tomorrow.

He said: “Despite going out of the cup there was a lot to be positive about and a lot to build on.”

Signing on Friday through to the end of the season, the defender, who commanded a £4.5 million fee when he left Stamford Bridge for Leeds, reflected on good times at Chelsea which brought him League Cup, Cup Winners Cup and European Super Cup medals.

He made 115 starts for Chelsea, despite the presence of World Cup winners Marcel Desailly and Frank Leboeuf in central defence.

Duberry said: “I suppose Marcel was something of a mentor. When the time came to leave Chelsea I was a much better player from working with a guy like that. But my hunger to play football and succeed is as strong as ever.”