Give Wilkie time, pleads boss Levein

Published on Wednesday 31 October 2007 12:11

CRAIG LEVEIN insists Lee Wilkie will not be ready for a Scotland recall until he has made 100 appearances for Dundee United.

Wilkie has been tipped to feature in Alex McLeish's B squad to face the Republic of Ireland next month following some sensational displays for the Tangerines.

But United boss Levein feels he remains some distance away from being ready for the rigours of international football.

Wilkie lost three years of his career to cruciate ligament injuries and has had two operations, including one by world-renowned US surgeon Dr Richard Steadman, but both were unsuccessful.

However, Levein would like Wilkie to have played a full season before being considered for a step up to the international scene.

Ahead of tonight's CIS Insurance Cup quarter-final clash with Hamilton at Tannadice, he said: "I've heard somebody say that Lee is going to be called into the Scotland B squad but I don't think he's ready for that.

"I don't know anything about the squad but having watched him I still think he needs more games. He's only played for us since January and that's nothing really, he needs to have played around 100 games. If he can get to the end of this season, then get a good pre-season under him, he'll be in a far better position and then he'll be able to say he's back on track."