Dundee United boss Craig Levein believes he is finally getting healthy competition for places in his squad at Tannadice.Garry Kenneth and David Robertson repaid their boss for recalls by scoring in the 3-0 SPL win over Gretna at Fir Park on Thursday night.

The victory moved United within a point of third-placed Motherwell and virtually ensured their place in the top six.

The Tannadice men strolled to victory despite making five changes, with Prince Buaben, Jim O'Brien and Christian Kalvenes also brought back in.

Levein said: "I was pleased with everyone that came in. Garry Kenneth this season, I had a couple of issues with him last season, but this season every time he has played he has been excellent.

"David Robertson gets another goal, he has been waiting patiently on the sidelines. Prince had a smashing game.

"I thought Jim (O'Brien) and (Noel) Hunt worked well together, not everything came off but they had loads of energy.

"We are getting people back from injury. If you think about it, Mark de Vries, Mark Kerr and Lee Wilkie didn't start - they would normally be starters - so the guys who came in have done themselves no harm whatsoever.

"We would hope to have a strong squad but we have struggled all season to have that.

"Only now are we really looking like we have got competition for places. (Craig) Conway after his injury is starting to look the part."

Robertson agrees that competition for a starting place has intensified since Levein came in last season.

"The gaffer has spoken a lot about the strength of the squad," the young midfielder said.

"When he came in you were more or less guaranteed to play or get a place on the bench. I'm going into games now thinking 'I hope to get on the bench'.

"The squad is that strong and they are doing that well. Even when we change formation, we do well, it's just good to be back playing again.

"Even in training, everyone wants to win. Training is fantastic now, there is a blistering pace."

United were desperate to get the twice-postponed match played before the weekend as they face Celtic in the SPL next Wednesday before their CIS Cup final against Rangers.

"Now we have got almost a week and then we have the cup final on the Sunday," Levein said. "It's good to have so many players fighting fit, which gives me the opportunity to make changes on Wednesday."

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