THERE are two or three reasons why John Robertson has been one of the players I have admired most during the past decade or so, the first of which is obvious enough.

He has been one of the greater goal snatchers of his era, a striker who carried on scoring even when the team was not much to get excited about. However, there are other aspects of Robbo that appeal to people like myself who meet and talk with the great football figures in the Scottish firmament.

Robertson does not just chunter out the predictable cliches, the ''we done good'' school of communication. In fact, when he is interviewed, the Hearts striker now on loan to Dundee, invariably comes up with what the guys and gals in our line of business like to call ''a line''.

In other words, the goalscorer supreme has views, intelligent views, can articulate them, and, best of all, is not at all afraid to say what he thinks. Although thoroughly a Hearts man, he has never attempted to hide the fact that his dad was a Hibee, which is not so common among players of other clubs who stem from backgrounds where their current team was not held in high regard.

Over the years, John has caused controversy by telling it like it is. On one occasion, for instance, I recall him effectively accusing Craig Brown (or was it Andy Roxburgh?) of ignoring him while other fringe candidates for the national side were getting their chances.

I seem to recall he was right, too, but whether or not he was, the point is that, in his long and successful career, Robertson has combined real talent with a shrewd brain and the courage to offer his opinions in public.

That is why, when he comes out in full flow about the barracking of Dundee players by their supporters, his thoughts have to be taken seriously. He was playing only his first game for the first division leaders at Dens Park, where they won to keep themselves well out in front and heading for promotion, yet he felt compelled to speak out.

Others playing their opening game for a new club, on loan or not, would have kept their counsel, lest speaking up merely guaranteed more vocal abuse of themselves.

However, Robertson, has gone well past the stage where he concerns himself about fan power, positive or negative, although he has virtually never had any hard times from the Tynecastle admirers, mainly because he is something of an icon down Gorgie Road.

When he says that the younger Dundee players are scared stiff of trying to play football because of the home crowd, you can be sure that he is saying what many of the others at Dens believe but are wary of revealing.

Robertson finds it hard to understand how fans whose team are top of the league can be so hypercritical and maybe John McCormack, who was sacked as their manager when the side led the table, would agree. Jocky Scott, who has taken over, must wonder a wee bit what will happen if the side loses its momentum.

There was a lot of talk about poor home form at the time McCormack was dismissed. Maybe Robbo has highlighted one salient reason. The supporters may harken for the glorious times of 30 years ago, but nostalgia does not do much to help the current employees.

Scott did a fine bit of persuasive business to get Robertson to Dens in competition with a few other clubs and, in Robbo's short stint there, he is very likely to contribute considerably to their cause.

The chants of ''Hearts reject' by the Dundee fans does them no credit and is inaccurate in any case. It will not surprise me at all if the wee striker is back in a Hearts shirt and scoring goals before this season is over.

Either way, he readily admits that he can take the stick. ''It is like water off a duck's back,'' he said, uncharacteristically using a well-worn cliche.

''They can call me what they want, because I'll shield the young boys from any criticism.''

As I said earlier, there are many good reasons for admiring John Robertson.

Even Dundee fans might discover one or two before he heads back down the road.