Thompson’s battle with cancer made last night’s stunning 4-1 win over Aberdeen an emotional affair for all connected with United.

“When the gaffer was talking to us before the game, he did his usual stuff and then he also mentioned the chairman,” said Wilkie.

“We all know about his problems and we all know how much United means to him. We saw him after the game and to see him so happy was great.”

The big defender also believes it is important this win is only viewed as another step on the road to glory.

“It’s magic to reach a final and a great achievement for the club as a whole,” he added.

“It will be a great day out for us, but we don’t want it to be just that, we want it to be a day where we come out with a trophy.

“This season, we have shown we can compete with any team when we are at our best and we have to make sure that when we go to Hampden we are.”

For Wilkie himself, career-threatening injury meant looking forward to a final was something that he thought he might not be able to savour.

He did help Dundee to the Scottish Cup Final back in 2003, but missed that through suspension.

In the wake of last night, though, he was in no mood to think about setbacks and preferred instead to savour the moment.

“I suppose if I sit down for five minutes I might think of how different things could have been, but I really just want to enjoy this.

“I’m not one who tends to dwell on things too long — it’s better to make sure you enjoy what’s going on now and we plan to enjoy this.”

From boss Craig Levein there was delight at putting a smile on his gaffer’s face and also plenty of praise for his players.

“I am so pleased for the chairman because I know the pain he has suffered, but he always puts a brave face on it,” he said.

“The past couple of nights have been sleepless for me because I was so anxious that the team gave him a show he could be proud of. Now I think I can say that, even if they had not won, they more than did that.

“And one thing I want the fans to know is how pleased the players are. They really want this and they gave everything to get it.

“There were four or five of them who were nothing like match fit and I cannot say enough about them for going out and playing like this.”

On a less happy note, both goalkeepers last night were hit by missiles thrown from the crowd.

During the second half, match referee Ian Brines handed over several objects that were thrown from the United end of the ground at Aberdeen keeper Jamie Langfield.

United goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska was also struck by what appeared to be a coin and he was also spoken to after the match for his reaction to Dons fans after some of United’s goals.