Dundee Utd 0 - 0 Kilmarnock: Andy Webster won't look for Scotland call-up favour from Levein

Published on Sunday 27 December 2009 21:23

ANDY Webster would love to kick-start his Scotland career under Craig Levein but knows the fact his former manager at Dundee United and Hearts is now in charge of the national side will count for little unless he continues to produce his best form at club level.

It will be four years since Webster last played for his country when Levein takes charge of the national side for the first time against the Czech Republic in March.

The 27-year-old defender, who impressed in United's goalless draw with Kilmarnock on Saturday, still yearns to add to the 22 caps he earned under Berti Vogts and Walter Smith, and the appointment of the manager who brought him to Tannadice on a season-long loan from Rangers would appear to improve his chances of doing so.

However, Webster said: "Two and two can make five; people can presume anything and make assumptions. I won't.

"Being a club manager and being an international manager is totally different. He'll have his own ideas on doing it and I'll just concentrate on doing well here and whatever happens, happens."

Webster's international career was curtailed by a nightmare knee injury that saw him spend the best part of two seasons on the sidelines. He subsequently struggled to break into the Rangers side but has enjoyed a new lease of life at Tannadice this term.

With Celtic's Stephen McManus and Gary Caldwell struggling for form, the centre-half positions in Levein's Scotland side would appear to be up for grabs. And Webster would relish a second bite at the highest level, saying: "You walk into any dressing room: 'What's the highlight of your football career?'

"It's international football."

Webster can therefore appreciate why Levein decided to take the Scotland job. "I think he said he's ambitious as a manager," he said. "When anybody who's Scottish gets an opportunity to play for or manage his country, it's a massive honour and something he said he couldn't turn down."

Levein's departure means a vacancy at United, which is currently being filled on a caretaker basis by the 45-year-old's long-time assistant Peter Houston.

Houston refused to confirm after Saturday's stalemate whether he wanted the job permanently. Webster, who also played under Levein and Houston for three-and-a-half years at Hearts, said: "That's up to Houstie. He's obviously worked with the manager for a number of years. Being an assistant is a totally different kettle of fish to being a manager. It depends on his own ambitions. He's been a great assistant manager, training's always organised, always set out, well planned.

"I presume the manager (Levein] would say he wouldn't have had all that success without Houstie as well."

Webster added that Houston's approach to the match with Kilmarnock had been no different to that under Levein.

He said: "Having worked with the manager a number of years, the team's had success that way so what's the point in upsetting the apple cart and coming in and trying to make fundamental changes?

"The nucleus of the team's there to perform well and do well.

"We've got good players that can score goals so I think the majority of the work is maintaining it rather than coming in and making drastic changes."

United missed a number of chances to put Kilmarnock to the sword. Especially in the first half, the home side dominated proceedings only for Jon Daly – twice – and David Goodwillie to produce close-range blunders. In the opening moments of the game Goodwillie somehow failed to convert a decent ball from Craig Conway as Houston's men applied some early pressure.

Sean Dillon also hit the bar and Damian Casalinuovo missed a golden opportunity, while Kilmarnock twice had the ball in the net only for the goals to be chalked off.

Visiting manager Jim Jefferies, relieved to gain a valuable point in their battle against the drop, believes his side worked hard for their slices of luck. "They're well-renowned up here – particularly at set plays – for great delivery and big lads," he said. "And if you don't stand up and be counted here and don't compete all round the pitch, you come a cropper.

"But that's one thing we did."