Looking at it from his own point of view, however, if it lets him slip into the team under the radar, the former Dundee and Scotland man believes he can use it to his advantage.

“It’s a situation that is strange for every player, not for just for me. I’ve never been in one where, if what you read is true, a manager could lose his job based on the result of the game you are playing in,” he said.

“I was not involved in anything like that at Dundee and, even when they were relegated, I was out injured for the last five or six games and missed the pressure of playing when people knew their jobs were on the line.

“It’s not a nice thing what has happened this week, but, looking at it in my situation, it could be a good thing for me if I come back and the spotlight is not just on me — there are more important things to do with the club as a whole.

“I’m sure I will be able to cope with it and the other boys will as well. Stuff like this is part of being a footballer and you can’t expect to be playing in games that don’t mean anything all the time.”

And the big issue for Wilkie remains showing he has recovered from his horrendous knee problems and can do at job at this level.

Fans have been waiting for several weeks to see him in the SPL and he is quick to stress any delays have been down to match fitness and not problems with his twice-operated-on knee.

“My knee has actually been fine since I started building it up again and I’ve not had any problems. Just like any player who’s been injured, though, it’s been a case of taking it slowly and getting the work done properly.

“Since I came here, I’ve been building up to a first-team level and trying to get to a standard I am happy with. I’m pretty much there now and I am ready to play if the manager picks me.”

The one outstanding issue, other than confirmation of his name on tomorrow’s team sheet, for Wilkie is that of his boyhood allegiance to United.

A fan in his youth, he admits 10 years on the books over the road means he is no longer in a position to play the only-club-I-ever-wanted-to-play-for card.

“For me, it is too long ago to be talking in terms of it being a lifelong ambition and my aim now is to rebuild my career and help the team.

“I suppose it will be nice for the family, though, because they are United fans and my grandad (Ron) has helped here at Tannadice for a lot of years, so it’ll be special for him.”

Wilkie will be joined in defence by former Dundee team-mate Lee Mair, who was one of the few to receive pass marks in last week’s defeat against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.