IN ALI Al-Habsi, Reading have a goalkeeper with impressive cup pedigree.
Not only was the 34-year-old shot-stopper part of the Wigan squad which produced an against-the-odds victory over Manchester City to lift the FA Cup back in 2013, but he has also experienced glory when winning the respective association cup with Al-Nasr in his native Oman.
He was also a runner-up with FK Lyn Oslo in the 2004 Norwegian Cup – and Al-Habsi is now ready to enjoy such successes with his new club.
And when signing for then-Royals boss Steve Clark, the ‘keeper was joining a team which had made it to a Wembley semi-final just a few months earlier, where a historic run in the competition was ended by an extra-time 2-1 defeat by eventual winners Arsenal.
Hopes for such a repeat remain as Reading prepare to welcome League One high-flyers Walsall to Madejski Stadium this afternoon, and Al-Habsi has been explaining what is needed to go on and win a competition described by many as the best in the world.
“You have to take it game after game and you have to believe,” he said.
“It’s a tough competition and with the squad here and what has been happening before, they should have good experience for this competition, and I think everyone loves it.
“It is a great place to play and we will have to see if this is our year for Wembley.
“I would love to play with this team in a cup final.”
But standing in the way of Reading and a place in round five is a Walsall side not only sitting third in League One, but who also disposed of Royals’ Championship rivals Brentford in the previous round.
Among their ranks too is striker Tom Bradshaw, who has previously been linked with a move to Royals, while defender Rico Henry and midfielder Romaine Sawyers are further talents who are also courting interest from the Premier League.
“They are doing very well in League One,” added the ‘keeper.
“It will be a tough game for us. Every game is tough, but they should not be coming here expecting an easy game.
“They will be coming here trying to win the game, so we have to make ourselves ready for it.”
In Al-Habsi, Royals boast the only player from the Middle East to win the prestigious competition, and the player is just as excited for the FA Cup now as when he first got a taste for the tournament.
He said: “I have played at Wembley and believe me, it is one of the best moments in my football career.
“I remember the final in 2007 between Chelsea and Manchester United, it was the first final at the new Wembley and I went with my mum and brother.
“I said to my mum please pray for me one day to play at this beautiful stadium – and a few years later I played in a semi-final, went to the final and won the cup.
“We have to take it step-by-step. We have this game on Saturday and hopefully we can get the result and see what comes next.”
Reading are likely to be without Garath McCleary for the visit of the Saddlers, who remains sidelined through injury, but there could be better news for captain Paul McShane, Michael Hector and Aaron Tshibola, with boss Brian McDermott admitting there is a “good chance” the trio could be back from respective spells on the sidelines.
