Levein says United have a stronger and cheaper squad this season

Dundee United manager Craig Levein denied debutant Danny Cadamarteri the chance of a hat-trick to protect the forward from possible injury.

"He had a hamstring problem last week and I thought 'what's the point'," said Levein, who substituted Cadamarteri after his two goals defeated Hearts.

"Hopefully there will other days when he can get hat-tricks.

"His two goals probably swung it his way as man of the match, but I thought Danny Swanson ran him close."

Swanson was pulled down by Eggert Jonsson to win the penalty that allowed Cadamarteri to open the scoring after four minutes at Tannadice.

Danny Swanson can hurt people not by kicking them or trying to fight them, because he is unlikely to win that Dundee United manager Craig Levein

Hearts captain Michael Stewart was sent off after the break and rival midfielder Swanson went close to following suit as tempers flared, but he received only a yellow card.

"They tried to bring him down three times, but it is part of his game that he needs to calm down a little bit," Levein told BBC Scotland.

"He can hurt people not by kicking them or trying to fight them, because he is unlikely to win that.

"When he gets the ball, that's when he can hurt teams."

United's forward options had been restricted through injury to Francisco Sandaza, Jon Daly, Damian Casalinuovo and Kevin Smith, while Lee Wilkie was absent from the defence.

"When everybody's fit, we've got a stronger squad this year than last, but at this moment in time we are a little bit light up front," said Levein.

"The budget's less than last year, but the players that we have brought in have not cost as much money."

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