Jamie Robson believes Dundee United boss Ray McKinnon has found the recipe for success with the perfect blend of characters to propel the club back into the Premiership.
The 19-year-old full-back has seen a host of new faces arrive at the club this summer such as Paul McMullan, James Keatings, Jordi Briels and Tam Scobbie.
Robson admits they have all fitted in well with a great spirit within the dressing-room and while some might “play chicken” with good-natured pranks, there are others who ensure no-one forgets they are there to do a serious professional job in the Championship starting today at Inverness.
Robson said: “Tam gives me advice all the time.
“I sit next to him in the dressing-room and I get on really well with him.
“If there is a wee thing in training that I have maybe done wrong, Tam will come over and have a word to help me.
“If he doesn’t like something, he will let you know but it is good to have somebody like that in the dressing-room.
“There are a few new funny characters as well.
“Keats is one. He put raw chicken breast in my pocket earlier this week!
“It’s good banter and bonding with the lads. Everyone is getting on really well so when things like that happen it is a good laugh – but I’ll need to make sure I get him back!”
When asked if the club need that kind of balance and mentality to win the title, Robson said: “Of course. You need the full team to be on each other’s side, no arguments and I think the way we are just now it is going brilliantly.
“Everyone has fitted in perfectly and I am really happy with the way everything is going.
“You have the younger ones who are always buzzing about and are happy.
“But sometimes if the joke goes a bit too far, the older lads are ready to step in straight away telling us to calm down and focus.
“Wee Willo can be miserable but seriously, on the pitch, you need that experience.
“Sometimes you can maybe make a couple of mistakes and let your head go down but when you have Willo in that midfield, he is just constantly shouting at you, encouraging you to do better.
“So when you are not having the best of times, the experienced players are the ones who dig you out and get you back up to where you want to be.”
United have been installed as favourites to win the Championship title but Robson insists that has not brought any extra pressure.
He said: “I think it is still the same. Last season we felt we could win the league and I think this year we believe we can win it as well.
“We need to do the basics right, win the games, make sure everything is done properly and professionally and I am sure we will do it.
“It will be really tough up in Inverness. They have just come down from the Premiership so it will be a big challenge for us to see how we get on playing against a team like that.
“But we have made some great signings and I think we are good enough to win the game.
“If we get the three points then it will give us a boost going into the games after that.
“If we get off to a good start, anything could happen for us.”
With Mark Durnan suspended for this afternoon’s game, Scobbie is likely to move into the centre of defence with Robson taking his place at full-back and the youngster admitted he is looking to kick on this season.
He added: “Personally, I also think this will be a bigger season than last year for me.
“I thought I did well last season and got more games than I expected so this year I have to match that and try to play better.
“I also have to make better decisions and try to improve my game in every match I play.
“I am really confident at the moment as I have had a good pre-season and I’m feeling fit and better than ever so hopefully whenever I get the shout I am just ready mentally and physically to do what I can do.”
“I have had a chat with the manager and he has told me to cut out the errors in the final third so I have been working on that in training with my crossing and finishing, trying to put everything together to make me better.”
