I’d be glad for Dundee United to cash in if I make a big move

SAYS ANDY ROBERTSON

ANDY Robertson is not one to forget where he came from. Seeing Dundee United reap the benefit would only increase his delight at being propelled into the elite end of English football.

Hull City’s relegation to the Championship has made the sale of Robertson a racing certainty. Liverpool, restored to the Champions League next season, are leading what could be a £10million chase for his signature.

Confirmation of a deal will be eagerly awaited on Tayside. With a ten-per-cent sell-on clause in place, United chairman Stephen Thompson could gleefully bank a seven-figure sum after his club was condemned to another season in the Championship. Such a windfall would significantly ease the financial strain at Tannadice.

First, though, Robertson actually has to complete his move to a new employer. The 23-yearold, who joined Hull in a £2.8m deal three years ago, admitted he had blanked out all transfer talk to focus on last weekend’s World Cup qualifier against England.

‘I’ve seen people talking about it but I’ve switched my phone off for the last week or two,’ said Robertson, who won his 14th cap against Gareth Southgate’s side.

‘It was such a massive game for all of the boys and it’s unfair for anyone to think about their future.

‘I’ll have plenty of time to do that. I’m looking forward to getting away now on holiday and if something gets sorted in that time then so be it.

‘Don’t get me wrong, it is unbelievable getting linked with big clubs. That’s where you want to go, of course it is.

‘I’ll speak to my agents and see what they have to say. I’ll just be looking to my future and seeing what’s best for me.’

Asked about United’s sell-on clause, he said: ‘I’m not sure about that but if I can help my old clubs along the way then so be it. But it has to be right for me first and foremost.’

Robertson underwent a meteoric rise during 13 months at United after joining from Queen’s Park.

Despite only one previous season of senior football in what was then Division Two, the leftback made an instant impact in the top flight. He was named PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year, also earning a first Scotland cap before Hull lured him south.

Robertson was part of a dynamic and entertaining Tannadice team that secured a fourth-placed finish. The subsequent years have not been kind to a club that continued to cash in on key talents.

After finishing third in the Championship last season, United were ultimately denied promotion by a 1-0 aggregate defeat from Hamilton in the Play-off final.

‘Yeah, of course it’s sad,’ said Robertson, reflecting on their current plight. ‘I went to the away leg (of the final), which was probably a mistake as I was in with the mad bunch up the back. ‘It was a disappointing day for them. A big club like that deserves to be in the Premiership. ‘There’s a lot of speculation about them just now and it’s a shame they didn’t get up, but they’ve already made a few good signings, so hopefully next season they can go on and do it.’ Time will tell. The same could be said for Scotland’s World Cup hopes as the qualification process enters a three-month shutdown. Robertson’s importance to Gordon Strachan has seen Kieran Tierney shifted to right-back and centre-half in the last two qualifiers. Four points against Slovenia and England did not represent a bad return but the way a greater reward slipped away will be a sore spot throughout the summer break.

Robertson was left awestruck by the two sublime free-kicks Leigh Griffiths netted in the 87th and 90th minutes. A very different emotion followed Harry Kane’s poaching of a preventable equaliser deep into injury time.

‘I think the last ten minutes we maybe looked like we were running out of gas a wee bit,’ admitted Robertson.

‘Then Griff came up with two unbelievable free-kicks and you get that second wind. It’s a disappointing one to be so close to a victory over England but I think in the next couple of days we can maybe look back on it as one that is a positive point.

‘I’ll be honest, I didn’t think Griff could do it again when he stood over the second one. The first one flew in the back of the net with unbelievable technique. To be able to do that twice in such quick succession, with all the pressure on him, is amazing.

‘I thought he was magnificent. He worked hard and gave (Chris) Smalling and (Gary) Cahill a torrid time. They were uncomfortable with him all day.

‘If we go on and hold on after his second free-kick, I think it’s the best moment of my career.

‘I think everyone would have taken a point at the start, especially at 1-0 down with ten minutes to go. But it’s still a tough one to take.’

Strachan remains adamant Scotland can force their way into the play-off picture with four games remaining. Robertson takes a similarly optimistic view.

‘I think we need to take points in every game,’ he said. ‘Whether we need to win them, I’m not quite sure. We will need to wait and see what other results are doing.

‘We’ve got England out of the way and we hope they go on and win every game now. You want them to beat everyone because we need to play catch up on Slovenia and Slovakia.

‘We’ve taken a point and will move on. The next four games are big but we need to focus on the positives from Slovenia and England. If we do that, we can pull off points in all the games.’