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| NEWS STORY |
FOWLER FOCUSED ON FAIRYTALE FINAL
Paul Hassall
16 May 2008
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Robbie Fowler is hoping he can put a season of injury frustration behind him by scoring a fairytale goal in the FA Cup final on Saturday.
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The former Reds striker, who swapped Merseyside for Cardiff last summer, has missed the last five months of the Bluebirds' campaign with a hip injury, but looks set to have recovered in time to play some role in this weekend's clash with Portsmouth at Wembley.
It is an opportunity he is hoping to take full advantage of and one he would love to mark with a cup final strike.
"Bearing in mind the season I've had, scoring the winner in an FA Cup final would be fairytale stuff," said Fowler.
"But I'd settle for any of the Cardiff boys scoring the winner."
The 33-year-old's last appearance for Cardiff came as a substitute against Bristol City on December 15 and his spell on the sidelines has limited him to just 13 starts for the Welsh outfit.
He admits it has been a campaign full of frustration but feels a Cardiff victory in the final would be the perfect way to end his first year with Dave Jones' men.
"It's been difficult watching the team get to the final when I haven't been involved," said Fowler.
"But I've trained hard and I am naturally desperate to be there.
"If I scored the winner it would be straight out of a Roy of the Rovers comic. But in an ideal world I'd come on when we were 3-0 up!"
Fowler is no stranger to FA Cup finals having endured both the high of 2001 and low of 1996 during his time with Liverpool.
He is well aware of the media hype surrounding the showpiece occasion but admits that despite having been there twice before, he is still chomping at the bit to make it a hat-trick of appearances.
"I still get the buzz from it, it's second only to the Champions League final," he said.
"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 worst 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."
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