Lee Wilkie

Playing career

Wilkie had been with city rivals Dundee F.C. for his entire professional career, having ended his contract with them in August 2006. During his time at Dens Park, he had short loan spells in England with Plymouth Argyle F.C. and Notts County F.C., plus nine games with Falkirk F.C..

Wilkie suffered serious anterior cruciate ligament injuries in January 2004 (ironically, against United) and in April 2005, which have left him without the ligament. Unable to receive an operation, he hoped to continue playing professional football by strengthening the knee muscles to compensate for the lack of ligament.

Despite interest from other clubs, Wilkie announced his intention to give first option on a contract to the team he has supported all his life, Dundee United. In October 2006, it was announced that Dundee United would offer Wilkie a 'pay as you play' contract, with Wilkie's signing confirmed on 10 October 2006.

In early-November 2006, new manager Craig Levein stated his intention to send Wilkie out on loan for "about a month", feeling he was "not ready to play first-team matches at this SPL level." Subsequently, in December 2006, Lee joined Scottish First Division side Ross County on a one month loan deal.

Following his spell at Ross County, Wilkie returned to Dundee United and played in a 1-0 defeat to Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on 20 January 2007. After the match, Wilkie cast doubt on his future at Tannadice by expressing doubts over his ability to play in the SPL due to his ongoing injury and fitness issues, and stated he will review his situation in the near future. Wilkie, like defensive colleagues David McCracken and Lee Mair, was to be out of contract at the end of 2006-07 in Scottish football, but signed a two-year deal in March 2007 to take him to summer 2009.

On 1 February 2008, following Barry Robson's move to Celtic F.C., Wilkie was named captain; six weeks later, he led the team out at Hampden Park for the 2008 Scottish League Cup Final, where he was one of three players to miss a penalty in the defeat to Rangers F.C..

International career

Prior to his injury problems, Wilkie had been establishing himself as a regular in the Scotland national football team. He was given his international debut by Berti Vogts against South Africa national football team at the Reunification Cup in Hong Kong in May 2002. His only international goal to date secured a 2–1 victory over Iceland national football team at Hampden Park in March 2003. Wilkie's most recent international appearance was an unhappy experience as the Scots suffered a 6–0 defeat against the Netherlands national football team in November 2003 that ended their hopes of reaching the 2004 UEFA European Football Championship. To date he is credited with 11 Cap (football) by the Scottish Football Association, although only 10 of these were in full international matches.

Lee Wilkie was offered a return to international football in November 2007 through the Scotland B national football team but declined to take part, claiming he needed more games to be ready to compete at international level. After playing regularly for the whole of season 2007-2008 and completing pre-season training for 2008-2009, without any serious injury problems, Wilkie announced his desire to work his way back into contention.