Goodwillie Not Joining Airdrie...Yet

David Goodwillie will not been joining Airdrie, because Dundee United manager Craig Levein wants more time to consider whether to risk allowing the 17-year-old to join the 1st division club until the end of the season.

Airdrie boss Kenny Black is keen to take Goodwillie to the Excelsior Stadium on a temporary basis, to help them in their relegation battle at the bottom of the Scottish 1st division league table.

However, neither Airdrie United or Dundee United have a match this weekend, because both sides are already out of the Scottish Cup - and Levein wants to use that time to further consider the implications of loaning out Goodwillie, specially given his tender years.

Goodwillie hasn't been part of United's recent 1st team squads, because Levein is worried about overusing a young player, who has shown a lot of potential.

Levein is keen for the reserve players at Tannadice to gain more match experience, with Lee Wilkie and Ross Gardiner already being loaned out to lower division clubs earlier in the campaign.

Although, any injury to attackers Noel Hunt, Jon Daly or Collin Samuel could mean United might struggle upfront in the remaining part of this season.

"People tend to forget how young David is and under normal circumstances I wouldn't let someone of his age go out on loan," admitted Levein.

"He's still a young boy, but has been in and around the first-team for a while, so that makes things a bit different."

"I've had some success from putting younger players out on loan, but they have generally been 19 or 20 - If David was that age, he would have already been away somewhere."

"The first division is a competitive league, so there's a lot to consider."

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.