The Dundee United loan for St Johnstone defender Sam McClelland is going exactly how Craig Levein had intended.
The pre-season motivation for the Northern Ireland under-21 international is a spot on the first team at McDiarmid Park, and he will return to Perth in the summer.
After Levein succeeded Steven MacLean, McClelland suffered from injuries for several months.
Thus, it was determined that the wisest course of action for the former Chelsea centre defender would be to play on loan during the second half of the season.
The 22-year-old had to wait a few weeks for Jim Goodwin’s championship-chasing club to give him his Tannadice opportunity.
However, McClelland took advantage of his situation when he was thrown into the deep end for the top-of-the-table match against Raith Rovers, and he followed up that strong showing in his debut last weekend against Queen’s Park.
Levein remarked, “I’ve heard he’s done very well in his two games for Dundee United.”
“He has a one-year deal left with us, so he will be playing in the preseason.
“Sam has an injury, so the question is, can he make it through the preseason and earn a spot on the team?
That’s going to be his test.
“We’ve spoken about it and he knows that.
“It’s really good that he’s playing now.
“He’s still a young boy and he needs to get in a rhythm of sorts.
“The fact that he’s playing regularly now is a positive for him and us.”
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