KEVIN BALL will delay his summer holiday if Burnley get through to the FA Cup final.

The former Clarets midfielder is due to go on holiday on May 17, FA Cup Final day, but he said: "I have already told my wife she will be flying alone if Burnley get to Cardiff.

"There is no way I am going to miss that one!"

With an FA Cup quarter-final at Watford on Sunday, Ball believes that it is more than a possibility that his wife will be forced to fly as an advance party.

If things had turned out differently, Kevin Ball could be helping to prepare Sunderland for a last eight against Burnley, the club where he ended his distinguished playing career.

But the Black Cats failed to make the most of home advantage against Watford and lost to a twice taken penalty by Tommy Smith, a decision that still leaves Ball mystified.

"I can't remember the last time I saw a re-taken penalty," he complained. "In our situation it would have been great to have won the game but Watford did it.

"Now I would love to see Burnley do it and I do take them to get a draw. That would be fantastic from a financial point of view. Both clubs have had their problems and so Sunday's game is an absolutely massive one for them."

Ball saw the Clarets knock out Fulham, the club he left for Burnley, on television and he confessed: "The first thing to say is that they worked unbelievably hard but they played very well as well."

And it is hard work and a battling spirit that he sees as key factors in deciding which Nationwide League side will be planning for the big pay-day in the semi-finals.

"Against us Tommy Smith worked very hard and they will be hoping to get him fit," he said. "I have always thought that Micah Hyde is a good player and my former team-mate at Sunderland, keeper Alec Chamberlain, did not have much to do.

"From a personal point of view, Alec is a good mate so I would like to see him progress. But having said that I have got a lot of mates at Burnley, the players, manager and coaches."

Ball has played against the Hornets four times in the last two seasons and they have won each and every time.

"I remember we went down there about this time last season and it was a really tough game," he said. "I ended up as a centre half and the gaffer was telling us to go two v two but their lads were quick so I kept bringing the full backs in.

"They got an ear bashing but it was my fault.

"The main thing was that we got the right result with Coxy and then Weller getting the goals after we had gone behind."

Ball is not only backing his former team mates to rise to the occasion, he is confident the fans will make a big impact again.

"I have heard they were superb at Fulham in the last round and I bet they will be even better at Vicarage Road," he smiled. "I really enjoyed ending my career at Burnley because the fans were so good. The fact that the tickets sold out so quickly, well that says it all."

Ball is no stranger to Cup glory having led Sunderland to Wembley in 1992, with current Claret Gordon Armstrong in the same side.

He recently started in a coaching role at the Stadium of Light, working with the young players as well as helping out with the first team squad.

But he is planning to get down to Gawthorpe soon and hopefully catch up with his old mates.

"We have got a weekend off coming up with the internationals being played and I might ask the gaffer if I can come down on the Friday and see them all in training, maybe stay the night," he added. "Stan has said I will be welcome."

If things go according to plan, he could be watching the FA Cup semi-finalists in action and he will be one step closer to having to postpone his summer holiday for a couple of days at least.

For the moment, he is planning to be glued to the telly on Sunday, hoping that his Burnley mates will be keeping his old pal Chamberlain very busy.