Paul Dixon is in a race against time to deliver the League Cup for Dundee United before his wife delivers their second child!
Dixon’s wife, Steph, will be cheering her husband on at Hampden today, despite being just days from giving birth.
The United defender has put family members and Tangerines’ staff on red alert.
But having waited 10 years to play in his first cup final, Dixon is hopeful the little one can wait a few more days before arriving.
So being banned from Wednesday night’s Scottish Cup replay with Celtic following his red card last Sunday is not the downer it might have been as he could be otherwise engaged!
“There are a few family going to the Final, but all I am really worried about at the moment is making sure my wife is looked after,” said Dixon.
“She only has four days till her due date. I don’t want hear an announcement: ‘Would Paul Dixon please come to reception. Your wife is giving birth’!
“I’ve reflected on my red card last Sunday. That it is somebody from above telling me I need to be somewhere else on Wednesday night.
“But you never know with babies. It could come at any time now.
“Andy Macgregor (United’s player welfare officer) will have my phone, wherever he is, and my dad is going to sit with Steph.
“We’ll just have to make sure there are no curries for her, and no raspberry leaf tea!”
Despite playing a major role in United’s run to the Scottish Cup Final in 2010, injury forced Dixon out.
The Tangerines beat Ross County to claim the trophy, but looking on from the sidelines, the popular left back felt like an outsider.
Asked whether making up for the disappointment of 2010 has provided motivation ahead of today’s clash, he admitted: “It would be nice.
“I went to the game, and was there with my big boot on because I had a broken toe.
“I had done some oxygen treatment, thinking that I would give myself a chance to get back fit. But I had a scan the week before and I was a million miles away.
“I got on the park afterwards, I felt part of it then, but once I came in again and all the boys were popping the champagne and drinking it out of the Cup, it hit me that I wasn’t really part of the day.
“It was hard to take. Some people say I should have got a medal, but I didn’t. So it would be nice to get one today.”
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