Rejection spurred Dundee United’s Andrew Robertson

ANDREW Robertson last night revealed how being dumped by Celtic has helped spur him on to become a success for Dundee United.

Dundee United pair Jackie McNamara and Andrew Robertson show off their Manager and Player of Month Awards. Picture: SNS

The Scotland Under-21 international was yesterday named SPFL Player of the Month for November which saw him continue his purple patch for the on-form Tangerines. It completed a notable double for the Tannadice club as Jackie McNamara will today be named Manager of the Month.

Robertson, 19, has been a revelation since joining United from Queen’s Park back in the summer but before that he had to endure the pain of being let go at Parkhead. And he admits the feeling of rejection from Celtic toughened him up to get his career back on track in style.

Robertson, who is gearing up to face Hearts at Tannadice today, said: “I was let go by Celtic at under-15 level for being too small. That was the reason they gave me anyway. I went to Queen’s Park and people might have thought that was a strange decision to go from Celtic to there. I guess it is a step down.

“However, Queen’s Park have a great youth set-up and they did make me the player I am today. Luckily, I burst into the first team there and now I am here. Being told that by Celtic did make me all the more determined to succeed in the game.

“My confidence took a hit and, on reflection, in my first season at Queen’s Park I maybe wasn’t playing as good as I had been playing. Fortunately, the youth development coaches Davie McCallum and Andy McGlennan put faith in me and I kicked on from about the age of 17.

“I always had confidence in myself but I just had a stage when I maybe wasn’t focused as much and was getting stupid wee injuries. It was hard because nobody wants to get told they are not at that club anymore and it was hard to take. “Maybe it took me a season to get over it but I did get over it. I am glad I am here now.

“At Celtic, it was John Sludden and John Gallagher who I worked under most of the time then Chris McCart came in. He didn’t really know the players and I don’t know what happened, whether or not it was just about change going on at the club at that time. But if I hadn’t been let go, would I have been where I am now?”