As a youngster Nicky Weaver stood on the Kop - the one at Hillsborough, not Anfield - cheering the Owls on and willing the ball into the net. Now, this weekend, the Manchester City goalkeeper will be doing everything in his grasp to stop the ball going into his net - so upsetting his close family and friends in the process. Last season, Weaver went on loan to Sheffield Wednesday – a move that helped resurrect his career after being out for three years with injury. Givemefootball's Lawrie Madden caught up with Weaver ahead of Saturday's Third Round FA Cup tie.
Q:WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION WHEN YOU FIRST HEARD THE DRAW?
A:The minute the draw was made my phone went crazy. Some of the Wednesday lads texted me as well as loads of my mates outside the game. I'm a big Wednesday fan and so it's a nice tie for me.
Q:YOU WENT ON LOAN TO WEDNESDAY LAST SEASON. HOW COME?
A:I can remember the day now. We trained on the Friday and I was getting ready for the coach to Fulham. The manager called me in and said Sheffield Wednesday wanted me to play for them against Derby the next day. I said 'yes', signed a few forms and off I went to beat Derby. When I went out after the game I saw people I hadn't seen since I was at school, people who used to stand on the Kop and people from my local village.
Q:MUST HAVE BEEN A SPECIAL MOMENT FOR YOU?
A:Being a Sheffield boy and a Wednesday fan, I did think it would happen where at some point I'd play for them. Any young lad on that Kop wants to play for the team they support.
Q:IT ALSO SEEMED TO KICK-START YOUR CAREER BACK AT CITY?
A:Playing for Wednesday was a massive thing for my career. On the opening day of this season, we were playing Chelsea away and I wouldn't have fancied playing without the games at Wednesday under my belt. I found my feet there after having not played for three years.
Q:YOU EXPECTING A TOUGH GAME AGAINST BRIAN LAWS' SIDE?
A:The three wins over Xmas have really turned around our season. I know Wednesday are flying but on our day we fancy ourselves against anyone. They got a great result against Stoke but they had a setback against Hull, so it should be interesting. As I say, on our day we can beat anybody, so if we beat Wednesday and get a couple of good draws after that, who knows how far we can go in the cup.
Q:YOU MUST BE PLEASED WITH THE WAY THE SEASON HAS GONE FOR YOU, PERSONALLY?
A:When I returned from Wednesday I was offered a one year contract. I wanted to give it one last crack and it has been the best decision I have made. If you had said to me at the start of the season that I would have missed only one game up to now I wouldn't have believed you. If you had said I would play ten games this season I would have snapped your hand off.
Q:WHAT'S STUART PEARCE LIKE TO WORK WITH?
A:You know where you stand with him. He doesn't say something one day and then change his mind the next, and that's all you can ask. If you play well you keep your place. He rarely changes a winning side.
