Middlesbrough star Matt Crooks says it will be a 'dream come true' to face boyhood club Manchester United.
United will return to action against the Championship side on Friday in the fourth round of the FA Cup following the winter break.
Ralf Rangnick's side will be aiming to pick up where they left off a fortnight ago and win a third successive match following wins over Brentford and West Ham.
For Crooks, who has supported United all his life even after he was released from the academy aged 14, finally walking out on the Old Trafford turf will be among the highlights of his career.
"Hopefully I play but you never know until you get the team sheet," the midfielder told the Northern Echo. "I’m looking forward to it. It’s definitely going to be the biggest game of my career. Laid in bed last night thinking ‘am I going to play? Am I not going to play?’
“Although I’m looking forward to it, whatever team the gaffer selects it will be one that he wants to win the game.
“I’ve been going to the matches since I was a little boy with my grandad, my dad and other members so I’ve been in the stands watching United as a fan growing up. I've seen Rooney, Tevez, Ronaldo, Scholes, Keane, all those guys so it would be a dream come true for me to play at Old Trafford.
“Obviously it’s not for Man United but it’s still at Old Trafford against them so it will be a big thing for me."
Crooks has already admitted he has to make sure he doesn't get overwhelmed by the occasion, even though he is keeping his fingers crossed he comes up against childhood hero Cristiano Ronaldo.
“It will be totally different. Once you are actually on the pitch you don’t really take in surroundings as much. You’re just focused on the game. But if I do play, it’s one of those things where I don’t want to be in awe of my surroundings. It’s still a big game and we’ve got to go there with the thought that we can win the game.
“It will probably be a bit surreal. I’m used to watching them on TV. Obviously I was growing up as a United fan when Ronaldo and Rooney. If I had the chance to go up against him (Ronaldo), I think that would probably be the biggest thing.
“I want to be excited but I don’t want to hype it up too much and not focus on the match in hand. Obviously it will be surreal. I’m not used to playing the likes of Pogba, Ronaldo. It’s a challenge where I hope they get put out and one I can look forward to.”
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