Flitcroft eyes Cup glory

Blackburn midfielder Garry Flitcroft has set his sights on a successful triple whammy – all a far cry from a summer bust-up with former manager Graeme Souness.

Flitcroft goes into tomorrow’s FA Cup semi-final showdown against Arsenal determined to make amends for missing Rovers’ Worthington Cup triumph in 2002 as he was suspended after being sent off in the second leg of their semi-final win over Sheffield Wednesday.

The 32-year-old is also hoping to prove to current boss Mark Hughes he is worth a new contract as he has just one year remaining on his present deal after this season.

Flitcroft will also celebrate 10 years with Rovers next March, with the prospect of a testimonial on the cards for a player who has made 277 appearances for the club.

It could, though, have been a different story for Flitcroft if Souness had not chosen to quit Blackburn for Newcastle in September, resulting in the arrival of Hughes.

Last summer, Souness chose to take the captaincy off Flitcroft and hand it to Barry Ferguson, a decision which did not go down too well with the Rovers stalwart.

An inevitable fall-out followed, resulting in Flitcroft being bombed out of the team at the start of the season.

But with Souness’ departure and with Hughes on the scene, Flitcroft is again enjoying his football as he said: “I’ve had an in-and-out season.

“At the beginning of it I fell out with the former manager. I had four-and-a-half great seasons with Graeme, but nothing was said when he went. Maybe that’s because he knew he was wrong.

“Since then I’ve managed to get back into the team under Mark, although I had a spell out with an ankle ligament injury recently.

“But with Mark coming in I’ve been given a new lease of life and I’m enjoying my football again.

“Mark coming in has lifted our season. The mood in the camp now is as good as at any time I’ve been here.

“He brought in a very good coach in Eddie Niedzwiecki, a good assistant in Mark Bowen, and he is professional with the way he prepares us. That’s why we are getting results at the minute.

“The morale and team spirit are great and we go into tomorrow’s game full of confidence and hopeful we can get the result we want.

“We’ve a great chance, and you can see that by the way we are playing for each other. We don’t want to miss out. We want to get through to this final. We’re all going to be up for it – no motivation needed.

“It’s as good a chance of some silverware as we’ve had. When I came to Blackburn I wanted to win things and this is the best opportunity I’m going to have, so we will be giving it our all.”

Three seasons ago Flitcroft, who was then club captain, was forced to watch from the sidelines as his team-mates went on to the lift the Worthington Cup with a 2-1 win over Spurs.

It is a day he has never forgotten, some for all the wrong reasons, adding: “It was hard being suspended. I was gutted.

“To miss the final was devastating, but I got a chance to lift the trophy at the end of the game which was nice. It was great at the time.

“Although tomorrow is only a semi final, it does make up for what happened then. It’s a massive occasion.

“But to get through to the final it would be even better. It would now mean everything to me, and to the lads in the team as well because there are quite a few in their 30s. So we will pull out all the stops to do it.”

But whatever happens this season, Flitcroft is hoping it is not one of his last as he appreciates he is not getting any younger, and in his own words he concedes: “I’ve not many more seasons left in me.”

It is why he is looking to win one more deal, and with it a testimonial, stating: “I have been promised a testimonial by [chief executive] John Williams.

“But for next season my main aim is to extend my contract. I’ve a season left after this and I’ll see what happens.

“I’ll certainly be playing for a new contract next season and if I can get a couple more years with Blackburn, then fine.”

Flitcroft is fit despite requiring eight stitches in a gash down his left shin and should be part of an unchanged team following last Saturday’s 3-0 win over Southampton, leaving Robbie Savage on the bench after his recent recovery from a groin injury.