BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Cardiff City | Fowler dreams of Cup 'fairytale'

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Interview: Cardiff striker Robbie Fowler FA CUP FINAL
Venue: Wembley Stadium Date: Saturday, 17 May Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage: LIVE on BBC One, BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live, BBC Radio Solent, BBC Radio Wales, Score on BBCi, plus highlights on Match of the Day.

Robbie Fowler admits ending a season of personal agony by scoring an FA Cup final winner for Cardiff City would be 'Roy of the Rovers' stuff.

A hip injury has kept the ex-England striker out for five months but Cardiff boss Dave Jones is set to name him as a substitute against Portsmouth.

"Bearing in mind the season I've had, scoring the winner in an FA Cup final would be fairytale stuff," said Fowler.

ROBBIE FOWLER

Date of Birth: 9 April, 1975

Position: Striker

Previous clubs: Liverpool, Leeds Utd, Man City, Liverpool

England honours: 26 caps (7 goals)

Club honours: League Cup 1995, League Cup 2001, FA Cup 2001, Uefa Cup 2001, Super Cup 2001

Did you know?: The Liverpool legend was a boyhood fan of their great city rivals Everton

But since his arrival from home-town club Liverpool last summer, his continued injury woes have restricted him to just 13 starts for the Championship side - and his last sub appearance was against Bristol City on 15 December.

"It's been difficult watching the team get to the final when I haven't been involved," Fowler admitted to BBC Sport Wales.

"But I've trained hard and am naturally desperate to be there."

Championship outsiders Cardiff, who are £31m in debt, reaching an FA Cup final is the stuff of dreams so Fowler is well aware that footballing miracles do happen in the world's most famous cup competition.

"If I scored the winner it would be straight out of a Roy of the Rovers comic," acknowledged Fowler, who is on a two-year deal at Ninian Park.

"But in an ideal world I'd come on when we were 3-0 up!"

Fowler was an FA Cup final loser when Liverpool lost to Manchester United at Wembley in 1996 but lifted the trophy in 2001 when Liverpool came back from a goal down to beat Arsenal at The Millennium Stadium.

"I still get the buzz from it, it's second only to the Champions League final," said the 33-year-old Premier League goal-scoring legend.

"But I do find the build-up a drag with all the talk and speculation - I just want to get out there and play.

"I was in one of the best finals in 1996 and have one winner's medal from 2001 - it'd be nice to add to that.

"The Cardiff lads have been great to me, they've kept me involved and feeling a part of it.

"We've some good young players but I don't think the likes of Joe Ledley and Aaron Ramsey need much advice from anyone.

"But I do have big-game experience and if anyone wants some help they know that all they have to do is ask.

"Although the campaign has been personally disappointing I'm delighted for everyone at the club.

"To reach the final is a massive achievement for Portsmouth, let alone a club like Cardiff as at the start of the season no-one would have looked beyond the big four Premiership sides."