Levitt in heaven despite sweat over Manchester United status
DYLAN LEVITT’S strike on Saturday will not make the shortlist when it comes to goal-of-the-season awards as his effort against Hearts last weekend may well do. But the 21-year-old Manchester United loanee was more impressed with his deflected strike against Motherwell because of what it meant.
The only goal of the game could see a return of European football to Tannadice for the first time in a decade. Levitt, of course, may not be around to appreciate that if there is a recall to join in with the changes that are happening at Old Trafford.
The midfielder joked that it would be good if the two teams met in the UEFA Conference League, a pairing that could see him make a return to Tannadice in some form.
Whatever his future holds, however, he was satisfied he has left his mark on Tayside this season. So much so that he has been serenaded by the United support with a re-jigged Belinda Carlisle number.
“I love it [the song]!” he said. “Especially when they play it through the speakers when we are running back into position and you can hear the fans singing it. It is every boy’s dream for fans to make a song about you. It is good to hear.”
Saturday’s goal was the first time he has netted in backto-back games in his senior career and puts Tam Courts’ side three points ahead of Ross County and four ahead of Motherwell in the drive to secure a European place. It also meant his parents got to enjoy the experience.
“They didn’t tell me they were coming up but they
turned up and I saw them after the game,” said Levitt.
“They come up from North Wales which is about four-anda-half to five hours away but they have been up to about 15 games this season. When you know your family is putting in the mileage for you it is always good to put a performance on for them and get three points.”
The appointment of Erik ten Hag at Manchester United and his reputation for promoting and developing young players has been particularly interesting to Levitt. Before he concentrates on what his long-term future holds, though, it is tunnel vision between now and the end of the season as he looks to sign off on a successful loan spell.
“It should be the next two or three weeks they have got to contact me,” he said. “I have team-mates down there who are still training with the first team every day. I think everyone at the club is excited to see what the new manager brings because we have seen what he has done with Ajax in the Champions League so it is very interesting and exciting.
“The players he has made like Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong and players like that is massive. It is a big part of how he wants to manage – given young players a chance.
“It was a massive three points on Saturday and other results went our way a little bit. The focus is on us now for the next three games and hopefully we can take points and get a couple of wins.”
Meanwhile, Motherwell’s Ross Tierney is confident that the Fir Park side can still claim a European spot despite the four-point gap behind United and point behind Ross County going into the final three games.
Motherwell could consider themselves unlucky not to have taken anything from the game with Tierney and Kaiyne Woolery both hitting the woodwork while an impressive stop from United keeper Benjamin Siegrist denied Tierney a leveller in the closing stages.
“We know we have quality in the dressing room and if we play like we did on Saturday then we should do really well,” said Tierney. “There is pressure on every game as a professional footballer because that is our job. That is why we love the game and the pressure. We have three games left and we know if we can get results we can finish where we want to finish.”
It is every boy’s dream for fans to make a song about you