MANCHESTER United's latest hero David May has a warning for FA Cup final opponents Liverpool - "We're going to enjoy Wembley but we're also determined to win."
May has finally emerged from the Old Trafford shadows and, tomorrow, the former Blackburn Rovers defender hopes to confirm his place in the sun.
Two years of frustration ended for him at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium last Sunday when he collected his first major honour.
Now he aims to become a United "double" winner by helping them to beat Liverpool in one of the most keenly-anticipated FA Cup finals for years.
"It was an unbelievable feeling to score the goal that set us on the way at Middlesbrough," said May, whose opening strike - his only goal of the season - eased the way towards confirmation that Rovers' crown was to be passed back to United.
"Now, with the FA Cup final to come, it's a brilliant way to end the season.
"We missed out on the 'double' at the end of last season but, this time, having already won the League we can relax.
"Like the manager says, we have got the main thing in the bag and it can be a fun final - but we still want to win it." With question marks over Steve Bruce's selection, it looks as though May's man-of-the-match performance at Middlesbrough could well have clinched his place in the United defence tomorrow.
And it would be only his second appearance in this season's FA Cup competition.
He's taking nothing for granted but is still bubbling after bagging his first medal at the third attempt.
"I suppose it has been a case of third time lucky," he said after making 11 starts and five appearances as a substitute during United's title charge.
"First of all I missed out with Blackburn, then they pipped United last season, but now it's happened at last and I didn't mind waiting for it, even though it has been difficult at times over the past two years.
"The first year it was hard settling in, it's so different here to everywhere else.
"This season, I had a foot injury and it was so frustrating because they couldn't find out the problem.
"One last scan finally found a tiny piece of floating bone and I had an operation to sort it out.
"Then I did my hamstring against Newcastle at Christmas and that was another month out.
"But, since then, I've never looked back."
May had to wait 12 months longer than his former Ewood team-mates to taste championship success, following his £1.25 million move two years ago.
He now has the chance of becoming a double winner, but he also expects his old club to push United again for the major honours in future.
"Blackburn's is always the first result I look for after a game and I think they have done well considering the start they had to the season," he said.
"I am sure they will be challenging us again next season and I'm looking forward to that.
"It's always something special playing against your old club and, luckily for me, I haven't been on the losing side."
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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