Kenneth admires Wilkie's commitment to United

Published on Saturday 10 January 2009 09:52

GARRY KENNETH has hailed the decision of Lee Wilkie to commit his future to Dundee United as a sign the club is set to improve further.

The Tannadice captain has agreed a new three-year contract only weeks after manager Craig Levein signed a long-term deal of his own so fans' fears this season's team would be broken up have been baseless.

With Jon Daly also recently put on a new contract and with talks continuing with Sean Dillon, Darren Dods and Willo Flood the outlook is good for Levein to keep most of his players on Tayside.

Kenneth, who has another 12 months of his agreement to run, insists the signing of Wilkie sends out a positive message and is delighted that his on-field mentor will be remaining with the club.

He said: "It's great that Lee has signed on again and it's more positive news for the club.

Defenders often get better when they get a bit older, Lee's in the peak of his career just now and it's great he'll be staying at Tannadice."

United travel to Ochilview tomorrow to face East Stirling in the Homecoming Scottish Cup and will be faced with the prospect of playing on an artificial surface for the first time.

Kenneth is used to turning out on plastic, having started his United career at their Gussie Park training ground as an eight-year-old, but insists he would always prefer grass. As that is not an option this weekend, Levein took his players to Ochilview for a training session on Friday so Kenneth is confident they are perfectly prepared.

"I don't think Astroturf will ever be the same as grass and I know a lot of boys will get wee niggles if they play on it. But it's something we're just going to have to cope with."