Webster realistic over Scotland chance

It will be four years since Webster last played for his country when Levein takes charge of the national side for the first time against the Czech Republic in March.The 27-year-old defender still yearns to add to the 22 caps he earned under Berti Vogts and Walter Smith, and the appointment of the manager who brought him to Tannadice on a season-long loan from Rangers this summer would appear to improve his chances of doing so.But Webster said: "Two and two can make five; people can presume anything and make assumptions. I won't."Being a club manager and being an international manager is totally different."He'll have his own ideas on doing it and I'll just concentrate on doing well here and whatever happens, happens."Webster's international career was curtailed by a nightmare knee injury that saw him spend the best part of two seasons on the sidelines.He subsequently struggled to break into the Rangers side but has enjoyed a new lease of life at Tannadice this term.With Celtic's Stephen McManus and Gary Caldwell struggling for form, the centre-half positions in Levein's Scotland side would appear to be up for grabs.And Webster would relish a second bite at the highest level, saying: "You walk into any dressing room: 'What's the highlight of your football career?'"It's international football."Webster can therefore appreciate why Levein decided to take the Scotland job."I think he said he's ambitious as a manager," the defender explained."When anybody who's Scottish gets an opportunity to play for or manage his country, it's a massive honour and something he said he couldn't turn down."Levein's departure means a vacancy at United, which is currently being filled on a caretaker basis by the 45-year-old's long-time assistant Peter Houston.Houston refused to confirm whether he wanted the job permanently.Webster, who also played under Levein and Houston for three-and-a-half years at Hearts, said: "That's up to Houstie."He's obviously worked with the manager for a number of years."Being an assistant is a totally different kettle of fish to being a manager."It depends on his own ambitions. He's been a great assistant manager, training's always organised, always set out, well planned."I presume the manager (Levein) would say he wouldn't have had all that success without Houstie as well."Webster revealed Houston's approach in the build-up to Saturday's goalless SPL draw with Kilmarnock had been no different to that under Levein.He said: "The boys are calling him gaffer for a bit of a joke."He's not taken too kindly to that."Having worked with the manager a number of years, the team's had success that way so what's the point in upsetting the apple cart and coming in and trying to make fundamental changes?"The nucleus of the team's there to perform well and do well."We've got good players that can score goals so I think the majority of the work is maintaining it rather than coming in and making drastic changes."United missed a number of chances to put Kilmarnock to the sword yesterday but visiting manager Jim Jefferies believes his side worked hard for their slices of luck."They're well-renowned up here - particularly at set plays - for great delivery and big lads," he said."And if you don't stand up and be counted here and don't compete all round the pitch, you come a cropper."But that's one thing we did."

Source: Team_Talk