Wilkie was one of the stars last night as the Dark Blues booked a Hampden place against Gretna on April 1 with a dramatic quarter-final replay win over Hamilton Accies.

It was Wilkie’s first start since rupturing cruciate ligaments for a second time last April and that he lasted not just the 90 minutes but the 30 minutes of extra-time it took to see off Accies by 3-2, amazed even himself.

“It’s just unbelievable. When I was on that plane last year all I was thinking was get the operation, do the rehab and then take things from there,” said the Scotland man.

“I’ve only really started thinking about playing quite recently, so it is amazing that I’ve played in a game to help us get to a semi-final.

“It has not sunk in properly yet, but it is great to be back.

“To play 90 minutes would have been pleasing, but to end up going for 120 minutes is more than I thought I could manage.

“It was a tough shift, but I have been doing a lot of running and at no time did I feel I’d have to come off.”

Physically, at least Wilkie expects the reality of last night’s marathon to take its toll by tomorrow and he could be back in the stands as a spectator for the trip to Airdrie United.

“The knee is going to stiffen up a bit, that’s only natural, and I don’t think you should expect to see me out there at Airdrie because that one might just be coming a bit soon.”

Wilkie does, though, warn Sandy Stewart’s Diamonds that, however tired the opposition legs are, they will have to work hard to get anything from Dundee.

“I know from being a young player not that long ago that consistency is a problem when you first come into the team, but being alongside the young ones we have in the side now has impressed me even more than watching them.

“A lot of credit has to go to them for performing well when so much was at stake last night and that can only give them more confidence. There will be tired legs tomorrow, but whoever plays will give it their best shot.”

Not surprisingly, the players were given a long lie by manager Alan Kernaghan today and did not report for a light training session until just before lunch-time.

He will make extensive changes for Airdrie and the likes of Graham Law, Colin Marshall and last night’s winning goal hero Steven Craig could all be in the starting line-up.

“We will have to make extensive changes because last night has taken so much out of them,” said Alan.

“No one is complaining, though, because they are still on a high.

“I really can’t say how huge a performance they gave and everyone played a part — that was particularly pleasing for me.”