Dundee United club captain Lee Wilkie is about to officially call time on his career.
Wilkie, who turns 30 later this month, has fought several courageous battles against injury since he first suffered knee ligament damage while playing against United for city neighbours Dundee in January 2004.
After making the switch across the road from Dens to Tannadice in 2006, the popular player looked to be back to his best and went on to skipper the club he supported as a boy.
He had tidy-up surgery done before the start of this season but it appears that arthritis in the joint has finally beaten the big man.
Wilkie was offered words of sympathy from his good friend and former Dens team-mate Derek Soutar.
The Dark Blues goalie said his heart went out to Wilkie.
“I am absolutely gutted for Lee,” he said.
“It is never nice seeing any player being forced to retire because of injury but when it happens to someone like the big man, who has been through so much, it is even harder to take.
“I have known him ever since we were just teenagers starting out in our respective careers at Dundee.
“And I still say that if his knee had held up then I have no doubts he could have gone to the very top level down in England.”