Levein.....A Better Standard Than Dundee Utd?

Dundee United manager Craig Levein will be sad to see Barry Robson leave the club, since the 29-year-old has been hugely influential in the clubs rise to 3rd spot in the SPL this season.

Robson has scored 12 goals already this season, but is expected to depart Tannadice this week, with several bigger clubs reported to be chasing the midfielder's signature.

Nottingham Forest, Burnley, Birmingham and Celtic have already been linked with moves for Robson, but so far no one has matched United`s £1.5million valuation of the former Inverness Caley Thistle and Rangers Youth team player.

Kilmarnock manager Jim Jeffries predicted Robson would cause his side problems at the weekend, but his players didn't listen to the warning, as the United captain scored one and set one up in a 2-1 win for Levein`s side.

However, Levein thinks that his most influential player is far too good for Dundee United, but still wants to hold onto him for at least 1 more match.

United play Aberdeen in the Semi-Final of the League Cup on Tuesday night, but there is a good chance he might already be a Celtic player by then.

"I want him to play in the semi-final but it might be taken out of my hands," confessed Levein to the Dundee Courier.

"It must be difficult for him with so much speculation but he is keeping his focus. The problem is he is probably of a better standard than Dundee United."

"He is at the top of his game at the moment, but the interesting thing is that teams know he is a threat but he is still scoring goals."

"Hopefully in time we will have a few more players like that. We have turned down a couple of offers but something will happen."

"If Barry was 21 just making his way in the game then I would seriously consider saying to him stay here for another year or so."

"But he is 29 with two kids and he has probably one really good contract in him so it is a lot more difficult."