IT had been some time since Dundee United were described as perfect but that’s exactly what they were to Robbie Neilson.

In truth, he had long eyed a return to the club he once briefly played for when many of his counterparts would not have touched Tannadice with an extended bargepole. And that was just the managers out of work.

This is United’s third season in the Championship and anyone who watched them lose 2-0 at Ayr United in early October – as I did – saw a team utterly devoid of confidence, playing for a club which continually made awful decisions and all for a dwindling support. Only a couple of hundred made their way to Somerset Park.

Neilson, however, rubbed his hands and told himself ‘that’s the job for me.’

Csaba Laszlo had been sacked the week before following a 5-1 humiliation at home to Ross County. United were in serious trouble.

Neilson came in, won at Partick Thistle in his first game in charge, and since then has won four and drawn one of his games including a 1-0 victory at Ross County. They now sit second in the Championship, three points behind leaders Ayr who go to Tayside a week today.

So far, so excellent.

“When I returned to Scotland, the United job was one I fancied if it came up,” admitted Neilson who had been out of work since January after leaving MK Dons.

“I just saw it as a perfect fit for me. I know the club, this is a great club with a fantastic fan-base, I felt the squad was talented, full of very good players, and it would be a great opportunity for me.

“Also, the training facilities at St Andrews are superb. That was a big thing. At MK, we were training on public parks and taking mini-buses. It’s night and day with what I have now.

“Look, there are lots that need changing at Dundee United. But there is as strong base which to build upon. I want this club back in the Premier League and challenging for the top six.”

This has to be the aim. Dundee United pre-Neilson were not anything close to being promotion challengers. Laszlo was a disastrous appointment, one of many made by that board, but they got it right at last.

“I keep saying that it’s really early but I can’t pretend to not be pleased with the players and results,” said Neilson. “All I have done with the group is to make them enjoy football again. That’s the reason we all start as kids, because we enjoy playing the game.

“Then you have players who want to be at training, who enjoy the work. We have a long way to go before I get to where I want us to be. But this is a start.”

Neilson left MK Dons by ‘mutual consent’ and was out of the game for nine months, which gave him time to recover from a bruising but also important experience in England and also reflect upon what happened.

“When the end came it was a relief more than anything,” he admits now. “It started to really go wrong at the start of December, relationship behind the scenes had broken down and I knew what was coming.

“In fact, I probably should have walked away in December but that is something I just have to put down as an experience and learn from it. My time there dragged no longer than it should have but there you go.

“Lessons were learned. Look, this is easy when you’re winning games. I had great times at Hearts and when things are going wrong, when the club isn’t right, then you learn to manage disappoint and how to cope in adversity.”

Nielson is 38 so is old enough, just to remember when Dundee United were not only one of Scotland’s best teams but one which took on and beat the best in Europe.

Nobody expects him to be the next Jim McLean, -that man will always stand alone in United history, - but this Scottish Cup winner with Hearts believes there will be good time ahead.

“No club has any divine right to be anywhere,” he says. “We are where we are. We want to get back to the Premiership. This is a hard league, you know. Ayr are a good side, Ross County and Inverness were both in the top league no so long ago, and we have gone thought a difficult period.

“However, we had 1800 fans at Dunfermline. Outside the Old Firm, possibly Hearts, I’m not sure anyone else would get an away support in those numbers.”

So, how is Neilson now compared to the rookie at Hearts?

“I’m hopefully better,” he said. “I try to be level-headed. I ask my players for consistency so their manager can at least give the same back to them.

“Football, really, is about one thing. Winning games. That’s why I wanted to come to Dundee United. I want to make this club better.”

Dundee United aren’t perfect but at least they now have self respect.