West Ham Star Set For Shock Return?

There is speculation linking former West Ham captain Christian Dailly with a dramatic Tannadice comeback, as Craig Levein targets an experienced defender to take charge of Dundee United's vulnerable backline.

The 33-year-old former Derby County and Blackburn Rovers player has been linked with a short-term loan move to Dundee United until the end of the season, after Levein announced his intention to sign cover for the center-back position.

Defender David McCracken was told on Saturday that he no longer has a future at the club, because he is one of several players who has been guilty of "downing tools" after United have gone a couple of goals behinds.

Speaking after the humiliating 5-0 defeat at Ibrox, manager Craig Levein criticised several of his 1st team players for not pulling their weight and not being concerned with losing a few or many goals.

"I will not tolerate people at this football club who don't care if they win or lose, who don't care if they lose 2,3,4,5,6 goals," said Levein.

"We`ve not had great times in recent years and I wont allow these same players that cuased problems for the previous manager, to also cause me problems."

"I might move 2 or 3 people out, which will then make more money available to bring more players in."

Dundee United have played with several different defensive partnerships at the back already this season, but Levein is still not happy and wants to bring in another reliable center-back.

Levein continued, "It's a major problem for us that position, we've tried different players in that position."

"I'm desperately looking for another one more position, which I'm hopeful I will get next week, which should make a big different."

Inverness Caley Thistle captain Darren Dodds looks likely to sign for Dundee United in the summer, but Levein needs back-up until then and Christain Dailly is just one of several defenders linked with a loan move to the club.

With Swedish businessman Eggert Magnusson taking over at Upton Park in December and new boss Alan Curbishley arriving earlier this month, there is major upheaval at the Premiership club at the moment.

Christian Dailly's West Ham future is under review, with the curly haired defender rumoured to be on his way out of the club in the summer.

That could leave the door open for SPL side Dundee United to bring the player back to Tannadice on loan until the end of the season, with United paying just a fraction of his reported £20,000 per week wage.

Dailly made over 140 appearances during his first spell at Dundee United, before joining Derby County for £1million in the summer of 1996 under the Bosman ruling.

The former Scottish International won a record 34 Scotland Under-21 caps whilst at Tannadice and was part of Walter Smith's squad for Scotland's unfortunate World Cup 2006 qualification campaign.

The Dundee born defender is one of the few professional footballers to have won both an FA Cup and Scottish Cup medal, winning the Scottish Cup in 1994 for Dundee United and more recently a runner-up medal with West Ham in the 2006 final against Liverpool.

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