The two had pledged their futures to the Dark Blues back in January and, although attempts to secure their services for the second half of the season did not come off, boss Alex Rae is sure the wait to get them will be worth it.

“I’m getting two players who have good experience of this division and who have been consistently good performers against us and the other top teams in our league,” he said.

“Big McKeown is an old-fashioned centre-half. He’s hard and uncompromising, but he can play a bit as well and I am glad to have him on board.

“In Paton, we are getting vast experience of this league and a guy who has impressed me each time I’ve seen him. I started trying to sign him a year ago, so it has taken a bit of time to get him and I’m glad we have.”

Some doubt over McKeown’s switch from Broadwood had arisen when he needed an operation at the end of the season for a hernia problem that has dogged him for the past couple of years.

The surgery, however, went well and he will be fit to board the plane to Malta on June 25 for his new club’s pre-season training camp. And McKeown pledged he would be fit and ready to do battle for his new club from the first day of pre-season.

“It’s been a few months since I’ve played, but the op went well and I’m fine now,” he said. “If I could, I’d get started right away, but waiting until we are all together in Malta in a few weeks is not a bad option.”

Fellow-new signing Paton set his sights on travelling all the way to the SPL with his new club.

“When you look around this place, you see it’s a club that should be up there and it’s going to be up to us as players to make sure we get there.”

Both new men have penned initial one-year deals with the Dark Blues. Meanwhile, work on other new arrivals is continuing.

John said, “I have exceptional memories of those two games. I didn’t think we would get into the history books, but we certainly have now.

“But I think it is a great achievement for Dundee United to be bringing them back and it is a testament to the football they have played this season.”

Paul, who also captained the league-winning 1983 United team, added, “The victories over Barcelona, especially in the Nou Camp, were massive results not just for Dundee United but for all Scottish football. It put Dundee United on the map in European football.”

Tickets for the glamour clash against the Catalan club on Saturday, July 26 are selling well and can be purchased in person at the club shop, by mail or by telephone (01382 833166), or online.

On the transfer front, meanwhile, the Tangerines have been linked with a string of players including Sunderland’s Roy O’Donovan, Paddy McCourt of Derry City, Morton’s Jim McAllister, Partick’s Liam Buchanan and Crystal Palace reserve goalkeeper Scott Flinders.

O’Donovan was the player who almost signed early last season, but was barred from doing so because he had already played for two clubs.

His progress has been monitored since, but boss Craig Levein described him as a “long-shot”, while none of the others mentioned are priority targets.

“I’ve maybe made 100 inquiries about players and, when that happens, names leak out, but it does not mean I am trying to sign them,” added Craig.