SPL - United cast eye over defender

Eurosport - Tue, 13 Oct 08:12:00 2009

Dundee United have handed a trial to Cameroon defender Jean-Hugues Ateba, as manager Craig Levein considers whether to bring in cover for Paul Dixon.

jean-hugues ateba (PA) - 0

Dixon's knee injury sustained against Hibernian is not as bad as initially feared, but he is expected to be sidelined for at least a month.

Cameroon defender Ateba was recommended to Levein and he is available on a free transfer after parting ways with French side Chateauroux in the summer.

Levein has been impressed with Ateba and is likely to make a firm assessment following a friendly game with Hibs this week.

"We've taken him in on trial and he'll play in a bounce game later this week," Levein told The Courier.

"I thought I would need to get someone on board when we suspected Dicker would be out for eight weeks.

"It looks like he'll be back within four, but Ateba has impressed so far so we'll see what happens."

United are also awaiting news on Scott Robertson, with the midfielder awaiting results of a scan on his groin injury.

Levein aded: "Scott is having a scan on Monday evening so we'll have to wait and see what the results of that are.

"If it is the same thing he'll get an operation and hopefully be back in around four or five weeks."

Eurosport

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