Having had time to digest the Dens director’s statement, the player’s manager at Tannadice has decided to speak out.

While stressing he was not angry, Craig did make it clear he was less than impressed.

“I’m not going nuts or anything like that, but Mr Melville’s remarks are not right,” he said.

“They show a lack of respect for Scott, for another football club and, on top of that, while I wouldn’t like to see things taken any further, they are against the rules.

“He’s publicly tapped one of our players and that shouldn’t happen. I think it shows inexperience on his part.”

When Robertson left Dens for Tannadice, there was ill-feeling from the Dark Blue half of the city towards him and United are acutely aware such emotions are in danger of being stirred up by this development.

Craig, though, was quick to stress the Scotland man had taken this story in his stride.

“I had a laugh about it with Scott this morning, but it’s not something that is good for him.

“He has 18 months of his contract left here and is very happy playing for us.

“Right now, he is coming back from injury and all he needs to be doing is concentrating on that.”

As their manager suggested, United will not be taking Melville’s comments up with the SFA.

“I would prefer to see the matter put to bed,” Craig added

For his part, Dundee boss Jocky Scott confirmed he has no plans to bid for the midfielder in January.

The manager believes no malice was intended behind Melville’s remarks and put it down to inexperience.

Meanwhile, going into tomorrow’s Co-Op Cup derby at St Johnstone, Craig has hailed the current United squad as his best ever.

The Tangerines continue to ride high in the Premier League after an easy win at Aberdeen on Saturday — despite another week when selection problems gave the manager a major headache.

And it is the ability of his men to cope with what are now weekly changes that has led to this tribute.

“This is the best squad I’ve had in my time as a manager and I can’t speak highly enough of the way the players have gone about their work this season,” he said.

“When you look at the players who’ve been missing and the number of changes we’ve had to keep making, the results they’ve been getting are remarkable.

“On Saturday, you could argue we were minus three of the back four that would have started if everyone was fit, but we still managed as comfortable a win as I can remember against Aberdeen.

“The challenge for the players is to keep things going and the one thing I know about them is that in terms of attitude they will have it right at St Johnstone tomorrow.”

As is now the norm, before he finalises his team for the bid to reach the last four for a third year running, Craig will have to check on a couple of injuries.

“Sean Dillon and Garry Kenneth both got studs in the foot and we will see how they are. I am hoping Andy Webster (flu) will be OK to be included.”

And to add to those woes, boss Walter Smith confirmed speculation the cash-strapped champions were now effectively being run by bankers HBOS.

None of that, though, was of any interest to Jocky and as much as he is relishing the challenge, he expects a hugely difficult tie.

“Whatever Rangers’ situation, the one thing that never changes when you are playing the Old Firm is you are up against a team full of good players,” he said.

“And, when you play against a team managed by Walter Smith, you know you are going to be up against a well-organised, dangerous side.”

All that won’t stop Jocky telling his players to have a real go in a bid to come up with a repeat of last month’s shock win over Aberdeen.

“Our situation is the same as then.

“We will be underdogs again which is a nice change and the pressure will be on the opposition and not us.

“That’s a nice change, too, and I’ll tell they players to go out and enjoy themselves and, as big an ask as it will be, try to do what they did to Aberdeen — only over 90 minutes.”

Jocky was pleased to report all those who were on duty at the weekend will be fit, including striker Leigh Griffiths, who was on the wrong end of a couple of hefty tackles during the 2-1 win over Raith Rovers.

“He took a couple of dunts, but he is fine. The way he plays, he is going to have to get used to those kind of challenges and I’m sure that’s not a problem for him.”

Midfielder Gary Harkins, only fit enough for the bench on Saturday because of an ankle problem, could make the starting line-up.

However, Filipe Morais, who missed the Kilmarnock match due to a shoulder injury sustained against Rangers, has trained OK and Graeme Smith and Kevin Rutkiewicz, who haven’t played first-team football at all this season due to injury, have also trained OK.

Manager Derek McInnes will see how this quartet are nearer kick-off time before finalising his line-up.

Striker Steven Milne is still suffering from an ankle injury and it could be another week before he’s fit.