Levein tips Shala to make impact

15 February 2009 09:51
The striker was thrown into the action as a substitute with 12 minutes remaining and made an instant impact when he set up Lee Wilkie to cancel out Eric Odhiambo's opener and earn his side a point.[LNB]Shala's only other outing following his summer move from VFR Mannheim was an appearance in the 5-1 win over Cowdenbeath in the Co-operative Insurance Cup back in August.[LNB]Levein admits the player simply failed to settle in his first few months in Scotland but believes he is now showing signs that he has a part to play at Tannadice.[LNB]He said: "Andis Shala has waited forever for his debut, he didn't settle well at all in the first two or three months.[LNB]"I don't know what it was. At one point I wondered what I'd done. But that happens sometimes and it takes some people longer than others to settle in.[LNB]"If you asked him he would probably say he thought he settled okay. But watching him in training and in the games he played in, I didn't think he was anywhere near the level we needed.[LNB]"But, in the last couple of months, he has actually being doing really well. It was good to see him get on the field.[LNB]"You can see his attributes, he is fantastic in the air and has a really powerful shot with his left foot so you will see more of him."[LNB]Paul Caddis also made his debut following his loan move from Celtic last month.[LNB]Levein added: "I was also happy with young Caddis. We didn't exactly overload him with the ball so I would like to see him on the ball a bit more. But he did all right."[LNB]Asked whether the decision to introduce Shala when he did was an inspired act, Levein confessed: "Sometimes your substitutions are desperation in all honesty.[LNB]"We didn't get going to anywhere near the same level we usually do. You have to do something if things aren't looking like they are going to change.[LNB]"I've seen us play better. We worked away and there was plenty of sweat and toil without much quality.[LNB]"We didn't play with a clarity of mind that I would expect us to considering our league position. But it doesn't work the way I want it to every single week unfortunately."[LNB]United could have had a penalty when Francisco Sandaza appeared to be fouled in the box but Levein had no real complaints about the outcome.[LNB]He said: "I thought it was a penalty. If it had happened in midfield, I think it would have been a free-kick.[LNB]"I know he got the ball, there is no argument about that. I've seen them given and I've seen them not given. I'm not going to say it was an issue at all today."[LNB]Inverness manager Terry Butcher - unbeaten now in three games since taking the job - was also satisfied with the draw.[LNB]His side had to play the closing stages with 10 men after Russell Duncan was dismissed.[LNB]Butcher said: "I'm delighted with the point. To go down to 10 men with 20 minutes left and Dundee United throwing kitchen sinks and everything else at us, we showed a lot of steel and determination.[LNB]"The goal we conceded was disappointing but we had opportunities to get a second goal.[LNB]"Celtic at home and Dundee United away are two tough games and you would probably say we wouldn't pick up any points but we picked up two. That's great from our point of view."[LNB][LNB]

Source: Team_Talk