Rangers will benefit from Webster’s time with Arabs

Published: 04/12/2009

Dundee United manager Craig Levein believes Rangers will be the biggest beneficiaries of Andy Webster's time at Tannadice.

Webster has been on loan with United as the Ibrox defender attempts to rejuvenate his career following a spate of injuries.

The Scotland international had hit rock bottom, but being involved with United and getting regular games has brought the spark back to his game.

The 27-year-old has been a central part of United’s good form – a fact recognised by him winning the SPL player of the month award yesterday.

Now Levein expects Rangers manager Walter Smith to welcome back a man returned to the peak of his powers next summer.

Levein, himself named SPL manager of the month, said: “Winning the award is great for Andy.

“If there's any player in need of recognition it's him and it will do him a world of good.

“He had terrible luck and for a long time everything went wrong for him. But he's playing again now and doing well.

“When I spoke to Walter Smith about taking him on loan he said he wanted him to go somewhere to get his confidence and fitness up.

“He's made great strides in that – although I think there's still some way to go.

“Under my part of the agreement, Rangers will get back the Andy Webster they signed a few years ago.”

While Webster admits he sometimes wallowed in self-pity during his time on the sidelines, the recent premature retirement of Celtic's John Kennedy has hit home how lucky he is to be back playing.

The former Arbroath player, who was signed by Levein as a youngster, has been horrified by Kennedy’s situation and it put his own problems into perspective.

He said: “There are a lot of people in much worse situations than I've been in.

“Look at what happened to John Kennedy recently. You can't take anything for granted in this game.

When you've seen the other side of it you just take every day as it comes.

“Being able to get up in the morning and know I'm going to play football is great.

“My injury problems were frustrating because they were so constant.

“I didn't have any big ones, it was always a case of wee knee operation, recover, get another operation and then twist my ankle.

“It was never-ending in the sense that so many things happened.

“But, as I say, there are people much worse off than I am so I can't complain too much.”

Levein collected his own award and saluted the role of his backroom coaches.

He said: “It's good recognition for the club, Peter Houston, Gary Kirk and the rest of the backroom staff. Although I get the award, they do a lot of hard work.”

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