Wilkie secures two-year deal

Lee Wilkie has secured a deal to extend his contract at Dundee United until 2009.

Lee Wilkie has secured a two-year contract extension at Dundee United, committing his future to the club until 2009.

The 26-year-old, who has 11 caps for Scotland, played for local rivals Dundee for the majority of his career, but left last summer after serious injury problems left his career in the balance.

However, he joined Dundee United in October on a pay-as-you-play deal and has now worked his way back to full fitness, making nine appearances so far for the first team.

"I am delighted that Lee has agreed to remain with the club for a further two years as I am positive he will make a huge contribution to Dundee United in the years ahead," manager Craig Levein told the club's official website.

"Since returning to a regular first-team role, his performances have been outstanding and he has been a great influence on other players.

"I believe there is yet more to come. He deserves great credit for the way that he has worked and applied himself to resume playing first-team football at this level."

Wilkie said that Levein's influence had been of huge benefit to him, and was delighted to sign the deal.

"I have worked hard to take advantage of the opportunity given to me by Dundee United and would like to thank everyone at the club for helping me resume my career.

"The manager has been excellent with me, both on and off the park. As a former international defender himself who also suffered knee injuries, he knows what I've gone through and what I need to do now and in the future.

"As everyone knows, my family are all die-hard United fans and they will be delighted to know that I now have a long-term deal with the club."