Angus Wright

DUNDEE United manager Craig Levein insists the only story coming out of Tynecastle he has paid attention to this season is the fact Hearts are flying high in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.
Hearts have endured another week of turmoil with player and staff wages unpaid on the scheduled dates, prompting a delegation to fly over to represent the club's Lithuanian owners in crisis talks.

The problem was rectified yesterday when the money finally arrived but there have been suggestions events will have unsettled the Hearts players. Levein, a Tynecastle favourite as a player and manager, is positive this will not be the case and expects his former team to head to Tayside this afternoon brimming with confidence because of their good start.

New manager Csaba Laszlo has had a positive impact since arriving in the summer and, according to Levein, is at the helm of the SPL's current in-form team. Levein said: "The only thing I pay attention to coming out of Tynecastle is how they're playing, we're not really interested in the off-field stuff.

"That's nothing to do with us and, if anything, a bit of adversity often spurs a team on so we won't be treating them lightly.

"They are arguably the league's form team at the moment because they've started the season really well.

"Their new manager has gone in there and had a really positive impact. The players seem happy and have responded to him.

"I've seen a few of them praise his methods and the way he works, which is always a good sign. So the way their team is playing is the only thing coming out of there I'm looking at."

United finally kick-started their campaign last weekend with victory against Aberdeen and followed it up with a win over Airdrie United in Tuesday's Co-operative Insurance Cup clash.

Levein's men started with four away games from their first six matches but now have Hearts and Inverness back-to-back at home.

He said: "I'm pleased to be at home again this weekend. One thing we're going to have to get used to at Tannadice is that teams might sit in.

"Killie did it against us and Hearts like to play a 4-5-1 formation so we're probably going to have to show a lot of patience.

"We did that against Airdrie on Tuesday night and I was pleased with the performance so we need more of the same this weekend."

Striker Jon Daly is available following the birth of his child in midweek and is likely to start alongside Francisco Sandaza after missing the Airdrie match.

Levein revealed: "Jon Daly is back in training with us again after a couple of days off so he's blown away the cobwebs again and is looking good.

"He's had quite a week with the birth of his child and it not being entirely straightforward so we'll look at him closely before making a decision. (Warren) Feeney and Roy O'Donovan have also both come back so we're in pretty good shape for strikers again."

Meanwhile, United have become involved in another bitter war of words with legendary manager and former chairman Jim McLean.

McLean claimed in his newspaper column United would suffer now director John Bennett – who has been linked with a takeover of neighbours Dundee – has severed ties at Tannadice after putting a seven-figure sum into club coffers over the years.

United, who have had a tempestuous relationship with their former manager in recent years, claim McLean's figures are well wide of the mark.

In a statement they said: "John Bennett was a much-valued member of the board of Dundee United and his contribution as a director was greatly appreciated during his tenure at Tannadice.

"However, it is important to counter the statement by a newspaper columnist today that his departure will be a 'blow' to the club because he had made a seven-figure investment, which had been guaranteed by chairman Eddie Thompson. This is completely false and without any foundation whatsoever."

Taken from the Scotsman