United defender advised to stay and gain more experience

DUNDEE UNITED: McKinnon advises defender to stay and gain first-team experience

Dundee United boss Ray McKinnon has told Jamie Robson he will be better off staying at Tannadice in order to get firstteam experience.

English Premier League side Southampton wanted Robson to join them on a loan basis last week before the transfer window closed.

With Tam Scobbie out injured that would have left the Tangerines without a fit left-back to call upon.

More importantly, though, McKinnon feels Robson’s career will be enhanced by playing in United’s senior side in the Championship in Scotland rather than heading south for under-23 football.

McKinnon said: “There wasn’t an official bid for him and they wanted to take him on loan to have a look at him.

“The thing is, though, that we needed him here because we would have been left without a left-back.

“What I have done is tell him that he would be better off with us in the first team getting better experience than playing in an under-23s side.

“I am not one for standing in people’s way, especially if there is interest from Premier League clubs in England, but I definitely think that would be best for him.

“If an opportunity comes up in future then we won’t stand in his way but, as I said, there wasn’t an official bid for Jamie.”

The Tangerines returned to training at St Andrews yesterday following the international break and the manager feels his squad is in better shape now than it was beforehand.

“Last week was tough because we had nine players injured but people are starting to come back now,” he said.

“It has been a bit stop-start for us because of injuries to the likes of James Keatings but we are getting there.”

Group. Picture: SNS Jamie Robson: wanted by Southampton to play in their under-23 squad.