Dundee United skipper Lee Wilkie insists facing the superstars of Barcelona is the perfect preparation for the new SPL season.The Catalan giants will return to Scotland for the second year next month, where they will be based at St Andrews and have lined up a return match against United as well as a Murrayfield encounter with Hibs.

Barcelona beat United 1-0 last summer but even though the Tangerines lost on that occasion Wilkie and his team-mates gained such a confidence bounce from sharing a pitch with the likes of Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry that it helped them in their domestic campaign.

Wilkie and his team-mates hope to make it into one of the SPL's UEFA Cup spots this season after missing out last term and the defender, who is likely to come back into Scotland boss George Burley's thoughts this autumn, believes there is no better way to limber up than against some of the world's best players.

He said: "Playing Barcelona last season was amazing and, to be honest, I genuinely thought it was a one-off.

"The fact it has come round again is fantastic and the whole club is looking forward to it.

"We have players here now who didn't get in the team last season or who were not even here so this will give them the chance to play against some real superstars.

"I think last season's game had a big impact on our season because we got such a boost from playing against the likes of Ronaldinho and Henry.

"Playing so well against them gave our confidence a real boost and that helped us when the season began.

"It's a great occasion and it's certainly more glamorous than going up to Brechin or somewhere in midweek."

New Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola has already told Ronaldinho, Deco and Samuel Eto'o they can leave the Nou Camp but Wilkie expects a raft of new superstars to arrive ahead of their trip to Tayside.

He added: "Barcelona are going to lose a few players this summer but I'm sure they will bring plenty of new ones in.

"That's added some fresh excitement because we've been looking at the papers to see who they are signing to get an idea of who might turn up at Tannadice.

"It's great for the club, the players and the city that one of the biggest clubs in the world are coming here again."

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