Jordan McGhee is determined to seal a long-awaited Hampden trip and give Dundee a confidence boost amid their survival fight.
McGhee was on the books of Hearts when they won the Scottish Cup in 2012 but was a year away from making his debut as a 16-year-old.
Dundee’s main priority this season is to get off the bottom of the cinch Premiership but the club have not reached a semi-final since 2006 and Sunday’s visit of Rangers gives them a chance to end that long wait and give their survival fight a shot in the arm.
McGhee said: “I was involved with Hearts when they beat Hibs. I was only a young boy for the 5-1 game, I think I was 15 at the time so I was only in training. But I saw the build-up and what it meant to the club and the players.
“It’s stuck with me ever since and I have always been hungry for a good cup run.
“I have played at Hampden in the youth cup final and trained there a few times with the Scotland Under-21s. It’s a great venue obviously. If we can get there and play it would be massive.
“I have been to Scotland games and a few cup finals and I would like to taste that atmosphere for myself.”
Dundee were seconds away from drawing a third consecutive game on Wednesday before St Mirren’s Connor Ronan headed a late winner at Dens Park.
McGhee believes Sunday’s game offers a welcome distraction from the pressures of the league.
“We know it’s the cup so we can go out and try and relax a bit and play our game, as well as coming up with a game plan to stop Rangers,” the 25-year-old said.
“We can get to a semi-final at Hampden and there is nothing better for a player to play at the national stadium.
“Rangers are in a good place just now but it’s a chance for us to put Wednesday night behind us and try and get the club to Hampden, something that’s not happened for a few years.
“It would be massive for confidence. Wins breed confidence and that’s what we need, the feelgood factor of getting a win. I don’t think we are far off getting a win and if it comes on Sunday then it would be great.”
McGhee is looking to put pressure on Rangers following the exertions of their impressive 3-0 win over Red Star Belgrade.
“You saw them on Thursday night, there’s a good chance they could go to the quarter-final of the Europa League, and they are the best team in the country,” he said.
“So we need to lay a marker down and hopefully start the game well and come out fast.
“Hopefully they have a bit of a hangover from Thursday and we can play to our best and hopefully Rangers have an off day.”
