Mark Wilson has joked about his role in Dundee United’s dramatic win over Dumbarton that earned them a tie against Partick Thistle in the third round of the Scottish League Cup.
United edged out the Sons 3-2 at the Bet Butler Stadium thanks to a virtuoso performance from Nadir Ciftci the man who replaced Wilson after an hour of the cup-tie.
Perhaps it would be only human nature for Wilson to feel a little bit perturbed at watching the player who took his place on the pitch score two goals and create the other.
Not a bit of it for the experienced former Celtic and Scotland man, who laughed it off and backed Ciftci to star against Neil Lennon’s Champions League heroes if selected by Tannadice manager Jackie McNamara.
“Yeah, that substitution when I went off and Nadir came on worked out well,” joked Wilson.
“Maybe that’s it over for me at United after just 60 minutes! I didn’t get stick from the lads afterwards because I got in first and mentioned it before they did.
“Seriously, Nadir did great. He ran the channels well and got the goals his play deserved. Anyway, Nadir is a striker and played further up the park and got goals that’s what he is paid to do.
“So I am delighted for him because I don’t think he has had too many chances since coming here. He came off the bench on Saturday against St Johnstone and should have scored he admits that himself when he was one on one with the goalie but he got a couple this time around.
“From what I have seen of him he looks very powerful and direct, a very physical player. He looks a decent asset for United and appears suited to the Scottish game.
“He will be full of confidence going into the Celtic match. If you come off the bench and play the way he did then you have a chance of being picked for the next one.
“He had to catch the manager’s eye and he did just that.”
United earned their third round clash with the Jags the hard way, going behind after totally dominating Dumbarton and then hitting the winner so late on.
“It was a tough game but we had seen the previous night just how difficult it can be for Premier League teams in the cup,” said Wilson.
“Falling behind obviously made it even more difficult for us.
“But I thought even when we did go one down we would still be OK because we were creating so many chances. The game should have been buried at half-time but being fair to them they plugged away.
“A team like Dumbarton only needs one chance and they took it but we kept our composure. So it was tough but we got there in the end and are still in the cup.”
Wilson is still building up his match fitness but he seemed fine in midweek and put in a good shift attacking up the right flank for United.
“I thought beforehand that I might have got tired but, to be honest, I felt absolutely fine,” he added.
“To get an hour was great for me because I hadn’t played since February. That is a long time. The running and the training United have given me has gotten me fit.”