Calum Butcher looked up to see Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven making runs ahead of him as Dundee United battled their way to the League Cup final.
Just eight days on from that memorable 2-1 semi-final win over Aberdeen at Hampden, Butcher will see others in their place as the Tangerines take on Stranraer at Stair Park tomorrow in their Scottish Cup fifth-round tie.
Armstrong and Mackay-Steven have moved on to Celtic, leaving United to dip into their considerable resources of talent to find replacements.
Butcher believes they can do that successfully and continue on their merry way in the nation’s other knockout tournament.
“It is a big loss for the club because they are two brilliant players,” said Butcher, reflecting on the loss of the duo to the Hoops in the final hours of the transfer deadline day.
“We have to move on now and there are others here who can step up.
“There are Aidan (Connolly), Charlie (Telfer) and Blair (Spittal) to name but three and every time they come in they do well for the team.
“The talent is here and there are goals in this side, all over the pitch.
“Hopefully, we can get off to a good start on Sunday and that it will be forgotten about.”
What will help ease some of the transfer pain is a victory in a potentially tricky tie against the League One leaders.
United will be going from the plush surroundings of the national stadium to the more modest home of the Blues but Butcher knows from his time in England how important it is to take games like this in your stride.
“I have heard of Stranraer but I haven’t been there,” said Butcher, who had a spell on loan with Barnet when on the books of Tottenham Hotspur as well as his time at Hayes and Yeading.
“I know it’s a long way but having played in England I’m used to travelling distances for game.
“I also know that they are top of their league and that they beat Dunfermline after a replay in the last round.
“So that tells me it will be a good game and a test for us.
“When I was on loan at Barnet I did go to some places that were a big change from training and playing at White Hart Lane.
“It was a culture shock but players have to do that when they go on loan. They have to adjust and learn their trade.
“The scenery was different and I went on loan in December so the pitches weren’t the best and it was freezing.
“But that’s when the attitude and professionalism kicks in.
“You go from being a youth player or reserve at a club like Tottenham with all the luxuries to experiencing real football at some of those grounds.
“People say it might be difficult to switch your mind from thinking about a semi-final at Hampden to a game at a smaller ground but you can’t think that way.
“You have to do the job wherever you are, be it Scotland’s national stadium or Stranraer.”
Butcher might be shedding tears of joy if United can lift the League Cup and challenge for the Scottish but he revealed he has only suffered cup disappointment down south.
He said: “I played in the FA Cup for Barnet against Accrington Stanley at home. We lost 1-0 and got knocked out.
“One of my earliest memories of the cup was the final in 2001.
“I was an Arsenal fan as a kid and it was the game against Liverpool in Cardiff when they had the great comeback to win 2-1 thanks to two Michael Owen goals.
“I remember watching it at home and crying at the final whistle.
“My uncle Steve was a Spurs fan and was winding me up so I was in tears.”
Meanwhile, as is the case with Butcher, Tannadice boss Jackie McNamara is backing the team to cope without GMS and Armstrong.
He said: “Nothing changes. We just move forward and keep things going.
“We’ve signed players in this window and it’s about working with them now.
“Everyone wants to play in the team and we have a strong squad, guys like Ryan Dow, Chris Erskine and Henri Anier have been desperate to get back into the side.
“Ryan came on and, in my view, won us the game against Aberdeen last weekend, so there is depth there with players keen to take their opportunities.
“Despite all the negativity surrounding the departures this week, I have great confidence in this group of players.”
McNamara believes tomorrow’s game has been picked for TV because some think it might provide a cup shock.
He said: “The game is live on the telly because people are looking at it as a potential banana-skin for us.
“So it’s about attitude for us. We have to go there and make sure the conditions and the venue don’t matter.”
McNamara will have to decide whether to pitch new signing Paul Dixon straight in at left-back or go with the defence that played at Hampden, while new striker Robbie Muirhead is cup-tied.