Preston North End striker Will Keane has admitted he is dreaming of Wembley ahead of their FA Cup quarter final against Aston Villa.
The Lilywhites are the only team remaining in the world’s oldest domestic cup competition from the EFL and find themselves one game way from a semi final at the national stadium. They do have to navigate a way past a team competing in the Champions League and hoping to secure a top four finish, but will be hoping home advantage will play a part.
Preston are yet to play against top tier opposition in the FA Cup so far this season, having beaten League One opposition Charlton Athletic and Wycombe Wanderers thus far. However, an impressive 3-0 win over Championship promotion contenders Burnley in the fifth round showed they can be a match on their day.
Keane Hoping For Wembley Day Out
Will Keane has struggled in front of goal this season, netting just three league goals. He did score in the previous round against Burnley though, and has started four of the last five in all competitions.
The 32-year-old believes that manager Paul Heckingbottom has played a key role in their run thus far, enabling them to dream of a trip to Wembley. Speaking to The Lancashire Post, he said:
“From day one, he (Heckingbottom) told us the importance of it and even in the earlier games, it’s an opportunity for lads to try and make their mark on the team. The further you progress, we know what’s in front of us.
“You get that one step closer and there’s a great prize to get through to Wembley, potentially. We have not wanted to over-build it up. We’ve just treated it the same as any other game in terms of preparation, but we know it’s different to typical league games and we can’t wait for it.”
Writer’s View
Preston are huge underdogs heading into this game but that could be to their advantage. Nobody gives them a prayer of winning tomorrow, let alone going all the way and adding to their two FA Cup triumphs to date. However, Deepdale will be rocking and will provide the 12th man. For Will Keane, this could be his last chance to earn a day out at Wembley.
