Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given has experienced some of the most agonising moments of his career in the FA Cup, and as he prepared for his fourth final on Saturday, it seemed as if his curse had struck again.
Given has been a shining star of Villa's run to a Wembley clash with Arsenal but a groin injury was threatening to derail his hopes of a career-defining FA Cup triumph, as American keeper Brad Guzan waited in the wings to take his place.
Yet Villa boss Tim Sherwood has confirmed that his first-choice keeper has made a swift recovery to take a place in his side for a game against the same opposition Given faced during his Newcastle days in his first FA Cup final 17 years ago.
He may have lifted the FA Cup with Manchester City in 2011, but his position as a benchwarmer on that occasion means he does not consider himself to be a genuine Wembley winner. He was also part of the Newcastle sides that lost the 1998 and 1999 FA Cup finals at Wembley.
Now 39, Given has been presented with one last chance to claim glory that he considers to be his own, with the affable Irishman daring to believe the FA Cup moment he has long dreamed about is finally upon him.
You've got an FA Cup winners' medal at home from Manchester City's success four years ago, but do you consider you've won this competition?
Given: Not really. I've got one at home somewhere, but I don't even know where it is. Maybe it went on eBay! It was nice to be part of winning it with Man City, but when you don't play it doesn't have the same value. You don't get that feeling that you've done anything.
So if you lift the FA Cup with Villa this weekend, would you see it as the first big trophy of your long career?
Given: I would in many ways. I'd love to win a trophy and it would be great for the club as well. It's been a while since Villa have won anything and it would be something special, you'd be making history and it's such a big historic competition as well, one of the best in the world.
FA Cup disappointment has been a theme of your career in many ways. How do you sum it up?
Given: I suppose the win with Man City was a happy day because we were celebrating after the game, but it was disappointing with Newcastle in 1998 and 1999 because on both occasions we didn't play well and didn't do ourselves justice. That is all you want in these big Wembley games. Play your best and hopefully that will be enough.
How do you reflect on what happened to you ahead of the 1999 FA Cup final? Newcastle boss Ruud Gullit dropped you for the game against Manchester United, but did you ever get an explanation?
Given: Gullit didn't tell me in person and there wasn't really any reason given. He got the goalkeeping coach to tell me. It was a bit of a slap in the face, but you can't look back in football. It was his decision and whether you ever get over something like that or not, there's nothing we can do about it now. You move on. That's all you can do.
Everything seems to have turned around since Sherwood took over as Villa manager. Can you explain how that has happened?
Given: Tim is a very positive guy, both in football and life, and that has rubbed off on the players. He has encouraged us to get forward more, to get more bodies into the box and to support Christian Benteke more. He has given us a bit more belief and confidence and that has shown in the games.
What has Sherwood done to get Benteke firing once again?
Given: Christian probably dipped in his form early part of this season. We've got him back now, or the manager has, to the player we all really know. In his first season at the club, he was bang on fire and he is back there now. It's the Christian of old, powering past centre-halves and a real threat in the air.
Has Sherwood changed the mood of the club? Because it seemed as if everyone was a little less inspired by the management style of Paul Lambert in the first half of this season.
Given: I'm not going to sit here and start digging Paul Lambert out. A manager is judged on results and they simply weren't good enough. Randy Lerner felt it was time for a change and now we have to get behind the new manager, which we all have done. Tim is desperate to do well and that's rubbed off on the team and players. He respects the opposition, but he wants to focus more on what we're good at than worry too much about what the other team are doing. It's been enjoyable.
How would you describe your relationship with Brad Guzan at Villa? You are rivals for one position, after all.
Given: Brad and I get along well. In general I get on with most people in life. Brad is a real honest and genuine guy and we don't have any problems between us. I don't pick the team and he doesn't pick the team. We've just got to work hard in training and hopefully get the nod, whoever the gaffer thinks for the game.
Do you see yourself becoming a manager when you hang up your gloves?
Given: I don't know yet, but I've done coaching badges and been involved in football a long time so I'd like to stay involved. Being a manager is a tough job -- I know they get well paid but it can be very stressful as well. You can never really switch off as a manager. I might sneak under the radar and be an assistant somewhere and leave the pressure to somebody else.