Jamie Robson says Paul Dixon will have to fight to regain his United jersey

Teenager Jamie Robson has been one of the success stories of the season so far at Dundee United.

And now he’s in the team, the young defender intends busting a gut to stay there.

The 18-year-old was handed his chance after regular left-back Paul Dixon picked up a knee injury in the League Cup trip to Inverness in July and that required surgery to repair cartilage damage.

Since then, Robson has made six impressive appearances, two in the League Cup and four in the Championship and managed to get his first United goal in the victory over Ayr United the other week.

The vastly-experienced Dixon is nearing a return and could feature in this weekend’s Irn Bru Cup clash with last season’s beaten finalists Peterhead.

Robson, though, won’t take that as a sign he’ll automatically be returning to the bench or U/20s football for the rest of the campaign.

He’s determined to fight to keep his place in Ray McKinnon’s top-team line-up.

“I think Dicker will be back on Saturday if he gets a full week in training and is feeling OK,” he said. “That does not bother me.

“I’m playing and I think I’m playing well.

“I just have to keep doing that and be working hard in training every day to improve.

“I think it would be wrong for me to say Dicker is back so I should just accept he will come in. I want to play as many games as I can and I want to stay in the team.

“It’s going to be a battle because he’s a very good player and experienced but right now I have the position.

“It would be wrong for me to say I’m young and I should drop out.

“I’m not willing to just throw this chance away.

“I have to focus on my own career and the best way to do that is if I am playing first-team games.”

As those words show, this is a young man who knows his own mind and has a very clear vision of what he has to do to succeed in the game.

Since making his debut under Jackie McNamara in a League Cup quarter-final win over Dunfermline last season, it’s been clear he’s a player to watch.

And, while things didn’t quite go to plan after that appearance, he made the best of a difficult time for everyone at Tannadice last term.

“After the game against Dunfermline, I played in the U/20s the following week also against Dunfermline and I went over on my ankle.

“That put me out for about four weeks and getting back into a team which was bottom of the league was tough going for a player my age.

“That plays with you mentally and it’s how you go about it and deal with it.

“I think I dealt with it a good way because I went on loan to Brechin.

“I got first-team football, we won five out of six games and I got a couple of goals. I think it was very good for me.

“My confidence was up, whereas others was down, and I got first-team experience rather than sitting in the stand here watching.

“Brechin taught me what life was all about and got me into good habits on the park.

“I felt it did me the world of good as a footballer.

“It was much more physical than I was used to and it’s a different game down here.

“In the Premiership, there is more time on the ball and you can pass it about.

“In the Championship and below they just press you so fast and get right in about you.

“Before you get on the ball, you need to know where you are going to pass to or you’re in trouble.”