For a player who just 12 months ago was about to endure the agony of missing out on Glenn Hoddle's England squad for the World Cup, Phil Neville is about to embark on a five-day spell which promises to be the happiest of his career.

The 22-year-old defender-cum midfielder is one of just a handful of Manchester United players to be guaranteed a place on Alex Ferguson's teamsheet for the FA Cup Final against Newcastle at Wembley tomorrow.

Only Peter Schmeichel, Roy Keane, and David Beckham can surely be guaranteed a starting place tomorrow but even they will not know until the team is named.

But that is not a problem for Neville due to full-back Denis Irwin's suspension after being harshly sent off for kicking the ball away against Liverpool in a Premiership game.

He said: "When Denis got suspended I always thought at the back of my mind that I'd play in the FA Cup final though you never take things for granted here. But the other day the boss told me I would be playing.

"It's a great feeling. It's nice to look around the dressing room and look at everyone else sweating on their places rather than me. You look at Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole and even they don't know if they are in the team.

"You can never take it for granted at this club. The boss has got many options," says Neville, who played in the 1996 FA Cup final victory over Liverpool. "So it's been quite a unique situation for me to have known so early in the week.

"I won't be nervous. I'm excited and looking forward to it."

Neville played in United's last FA Cup outing when they beat Liverpool 1-0 in 1996 thanks to a last-gasp goal from Eric Cantona

However he said: "Most of it is just a total blur. But I remember Eric Cantona's goal in the last minute. I've probably watched that a thousand times. Best goal I've ever seen, the best feeling I've ever had."

And to those who say the FA Cup is something of a low-key affair this year, sandwiched between the Premiership title and United's chase for the European Cup, Phil has this message.

"The general public might be taking it for granted but there's no way we are going to take it lightly. We've beaten Liverpool, Chelsea, Middlesbrough and Arsenal so we fully deserve to win it this year."

Phil's brother Gary is convinced few sides can live with United in an open attacking game.

"While it's nil-nil everybody's cagey and we're not the best at that. But if it's an end-to-end game and there are goals I'll always fancy us."

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