Born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, Wilkinson is the son of former player and manager Howard Wilkinson.
He played with the youth teams of Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United and Derby County, becoming a scholar with the latter in May 2003.
He joined Hull City in January 2005, where he completed his scholarship.
He signed a two-year professional contract with Hull in the summer of 2006.
He joined Conference North club Harrogate Town on 9 December 2006 on a one-month loan, where he made five appearances before returning to Hull in January 2007.

Wilkinson went on trial with York City of the Conference National in January 2008, in which he scored two goals in a reserve-team match against Sheffield United.
On 31 January 2008, he joined Gretna of the Scottish Premier League on loan until the end of the 2007–08 season.
He made his debut in a 2–0 away defeat against Heart of Midlothian on 9 February 2008 and made 13 appearances for the club.
Born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, Wilkinson is the son of former player and manager Howard Wilkinson. He played with the youth teams of Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United and Derby County, becoming a scholar with the latter in May 2003. He joined Hull City in January 2005, where he completed his scholarship. He signed a two-year professional contract with Hull in the summer of 2006. He joined Conference North club Harrogate Town on 9 December 2006 on a one-month loan, where he made five appearances before returning to Hull in January 2007.
Wilkinson went on trial with York City of the Conference National in January 2008, in which he scored two goals in a reserve-team match against Sheffield United. On 31 January 2008, he joined Gretna of the Scottish Premier League on loan until the end of the 2007–08 season. He made his debut in a 2–0 away defeat against Heart of Midlothian on 9 February 2008 and made 13 appearances for the club.
Ben Wilkinson