| The midfielder was a key part of the Terrors midfield after he moved across the road from Dundee, but an injury-plagued 18 months saw him go under the knife three times in a bid to deal with a groin injury.
But a summer of hard work, even before United’s official pre-season began, has seen Robertson raring to go and ready to battle for his place in the team.
Morgaro Gomis and Prince Buaben earned rave reviews for their performances for the Tangerines last season and Scott admitted it won’t be easy for him to win his place back.
“It’s all about getting fully fit again and there’s no easy way to do that, especially here with the heat — it’s going to be hard,” he said.
“It’s not my choice, I’ve just got to do my best in training and in games and then it’s up to the manager if he wants to pick me.
“I really want to play now, though, especially with the boys doing so well last season to finish third and win the cup.”
Robertson recovered in time to take a place on the bench for the Scottish Cup Final and he is now hoping the worst-ever period of injury in his career is behind him.
“It’s something I’d never really considered before, I’d been pretty lucky with injuries and the longest I’d ever been out for was six weeks,” said Scott.
“So to be out for four months at the end of my first season at United and then eight months out last season was desperately frustrating.
“Now I really want to get back the form I showed when I first came here.”
Robertson won his first Scotland cap coming on as a substitute against Argentina in November 2008, but, while some people may think a good season could see him called up again by ex-United manager Craig Levein, Scott only has reclaiming his form in a Tangerine jersey in mind.
He added, “I don’t really like to talk about it, but, obviously, if I am back in the kind of form I was when I first arrived at United it’s a possibility.
“But that’s not going to happen if I don’t get back into the United team, that’s what I’m aiming for and what I enjoy, to be playing week in and week out, which, hopefully, I can carry on this season.”
United manager Peter Houston has certainly been impressed with the way Robertson has come through pre-season so far, and praised him for his work-rate.
He said, “Scott’s not missed training. He’s looked good so far and he’ll be like a new player because we’ve not seen him for a year.” |
