“It would be great to get to my third semi in a short space of time and I think this is a game we can win. But it is going to be very tough and we can’t afford to be thinking about the last four until we’re there.”

And, while that Hampden appearance in the CIS disintegrated into a 7-1 nightmare, it hasn’t hit the 26-year-old’s desire to return to that stage.

He believes one result has hidden what has been a gradual improvement over the last couple of months and has only served to increase the players’ determination to turn the season round.

“What happened at Hampden was a big disappointment to all of us. However, it was only one game and, if you look at our recent record, we have only lost two of the last nine. Our problem has been that we’ve had too many draws. But if we can win on Sunday, and use that to go on and get a few better league results, things would be a lot better.

“We have steadied the ship and if we can keep improving, we can have an OK season. Most teams would take two semi appearances and that’s on for us.”

A tightening of the defence has led to just one goal conceded in the last three games and boosted confidence. But injuries have hit hard.

Definitely out this weekend are Derek McInnes, Lee Mair, Jim McIntyre and David McCracken. Robson accepts their absence is a blow, but feels United have shown they can cope when key players are absent.

“At Livingston the other week, Paul Ritchie and I were suspended and David McCracken and Derek McInnes injured, but the boys still won. Now Jim and Lee are out and we are gutted for them. The manager would want to have everyone available, but feels we are still strong enough to win this one and I agree.”

The manager has wrapped his players in cotton wool over the last few days in a bid to prevent further injuries and, despite his selection worries, he is looking forward to Sunday. “A quarter-final and a big crowd with the TV cameras present is the kind of occasion a club like Dundee United should be involved in and we can’t wait for the game. It has the makings of a close tie, but, even with the players we have missing, we believe it is one we can win,” he said.

The two big issues he must settle are who comes in to form a makeshift defence at the back, and who will partner Stevie Crawford up front in the absence of McIntyre. Teenage defenders Garry Kenneth and Greg Cameron will be in the squad, but the more experienced Stuart Duff, who Aberdeen want in the summer, may drop back from midfield. Jason Scotland and James Grady are vying for the second striker’s berth.

The Dons expect to have a “12th man” in the shape of a huge travelling support. Despite the noon kick-off and live TV coverage, they have sold well over 4000 tickets and believe sales will top 5000 over the next 24 hours. United fans still to get tickets can do so between 9 am-5 pm tomorrow from the club shop.

There will also be cash turnstiles on Sunday at the George Fox and East stands for United supporters.

Andy McLaren has joined Morton on loan till the end of the season.

“He did well when he was up here and has been good when we’ve had him watched. He is a player who definitely has a chance of making it at this level,” said Jim.

“He will be 20 by the time he starts here and, like a few who are already at the club, I would like to think he will be within touching distance of the first team by the start of the new season.”

While, on the surface, adding a striker to the squad may not appear a major priority now, Jim pointed out that by the summer things could have changed.

“We’re well off for options up front, but if you look at the squad, Fabian Caballero, Glenn Larsen and Alex Cerdeira are all out of contract in the summer and John Sutton is here on a season’s loan,” he explained.

“We might try to do something with some of them, but nothing is settled, and it’s important that, when we look towards next season and beyond, we have options.”

Meanwhile, after several days of working indoors, the first-team squad were back on grass as they rounded off their week’s work this morning. “Conditions are still not perfect, but I got the groundsman to clear snow from our training pitch because I wanted the players outside again,” said Jim.

Lee Wilkie was able to do some work after recovering from the ankle knock he picked up at Hibs, but Tom McManus was still struggling with a similar problem. He, though, is expected to be fit for Wednesday’s trip to Celtic Park.

“Having him miss a whole week’s training isn’t ideal, but his general fitness is good and I think he will be back at work with the rest of the squad come Monday,” Jim added.