Scotland full-back Andrew Robertson looks set to seal his £3 million move to Hull City when he travels south for talks after Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara confirmed a fee had been agreed between the two clubs.
Robertson watched from the stand as the Tangerines secured a 1-0 victory in their pre-season friendly against Hibs yesterday after being left out as a precaution.
McNamara remains hopeful Robertson, who only arrived from part-time football with Queen’s Park 12 months ago, could still shun a move to England.
That is not expected to happen and McNamara said it has been a fairy-tale rise for the 20-year-old left-back.
He said: “Andrew’s going down to speak to them. The two clubs have agreed a fee, so we’ll find out in the next couple of days whether it’s either a yes or a no hopefully it’s a no.
“He couldn’t be included today. He trained with us on Saturday and he was here to watch with John Souttar.
“We’ll wait and see what happens. It’s all down to Andrew and his family, the decision he makes. He’s obviously got to speak about his personal terms, where he sees him playing and his future.
“From my point of view, the two clubs have agreed a fee so it’s just down the personal stuff now.
“Selfishly, I hope he decides to stay another year but sometimes these things are outwith your control.
“It’s a fantastic story for the lad. One year ago, he came in with his parents, playing part-time football.
“What’s happened to him up to now bids of crazy money, young player of the year, playing with Scotland he’s a Scotland regular now it’s a great message to any young kid who might have been rejected growing up.
“But I would like to work with him a lot longer.”
For United, Sunday’s trip to the capital was the first chance to see summer signing Jaroslaw Fojut in action and he was joined in the starting ranks by fellow new recruits Callum Morris and Blair Spittal, with Mario Bilate given his first start after being snapped up during the club’s recent tour to the Netherlands.
It was a familiar face who got the game’s decisive goal 14 minutes from time after a mistake from Hibs’ latest signing, Scott Allan.
The former United youngster misplaced a pass minutes after being introduced for his debut as a late substitute, allowing Aidan Connolly to tee up Chris Erskine, who curled a superb finish into the far
corner.
The strike outfoxed Mark Oxley in the Hibs goal, but the new recruit on loan from Hull City, who is expected to be confirmed as the club’s fourth new recruit in the next 24 hours, looked comfortable for the rest of the 90 minutes.
Hibs head coach Alan Stubbs, who was satisfied with his team’s performance on his home debut, said he has finally found the right last line of defence after the club released three keepers after relegation at the end of last season.
Stubbs, who handed freed Newcastle United midfielder Michael Richardson a trial outing, said: “I told you all along that I would have a keeper in place, it was just a matter of me getting the right one. Some people panic but it’s not my style.
“I knew what I wanted and I said all along that if it meant me waiting then I would wait for the right one. I feel as if I’ve got the right one.”