Lee Wilkie glad to share in Scottish Cup celebrations

Wilkie (right) was invited to help Andy Webster collect the Scottish Cup

Lee Wilkie was reluctant to help Dundee United skipper Andy Webster collect the Scottish Cup but is thankful he joined in the celebrations.

Former captain Wilkie had to retire this season through injury and was asked to lead the side out at Hampden.

That honour was compounded when Webster invited him to pick up the trophy.

"I wasn't comfortable doing it," said Wilkie. "I didn't want to take anything away from Andy Webster. I hadn't planned on it but I am glad I did."

United picked up the Scottish time for the second time in their history thanks to a comfortable 3-0 win over Ross County.

Wilkie led the Tannadice team out on to the pitch, having been forced to hang up his boots at the age of 29 after being plagued by a series of knee injuries.

And he cheered from the Hampden dugout as David Goodwillie opened the scoring and Craig Conway added a late double.

MY SPORT: DEBATE Share your thoughts on United's victory at Hampden

"It was a massive thing for me and it will never happen again," he said of his trip up the Hampden stairs with his former team-mates.

However, Wilkie revealed that he is still coming to terms with his football career being over.

"It was horrible sitting there." he admitted. "I have been trying to act as a fan but it's been hard.

"I have the summer to deal with it and try and draw a line under it.

"Hopefully I can go and watch a few games and watch it in a more relaxed way.

"I don't know what I'm going to do. There are not many full-time positions in football.

I need to concentrate on getting a job and getting money in and seeing what happens with football after that."

Webster, who has endured his own injury problems throughout his career, was delighted to share the cup-lifting moment with Wilkie.

"It was a fitting tribute," said Webster, who will return to Rangers following his loan deal at United.

"You don't want to pre-empt anything but I asked before the game that if we won the cup would he come up and collect it. A few other boys had said the same.

"He was a bit reluctant and we had to coax him.

"The boys were going to push him up and he's a big boy to push up.

"If I was in the same situation I would be a bit reluctant as well.

"The boys had massive respect for him. "It's a crying shame what happened to him and as I say, it's a fitting tribute."