BIRTHDAY boy Matt Derbyshire is hoping for the ultimate 21st birthday present - scoring the goal that would take Blackburn Rovers into the FA Cup final.

The striker, who comes of age today, is hoping to celebrate with a semi-final win over Chelsea and an FA Cup final trip to Wembley.

It would be Derbyshire's second appearance at the national stadium after starring for England Under-21's last month.

He has been a revelation for Rovers this season scoring seven goals so far - four of those in the FA Cup.

And the Blackburn boy, who signed for Rovers from Great Harwood Town, is aiming to gun down Chelsea to mark a special birthday.

He said: "It's the big two-one but I'll just be keeping my head on the game and hopefully go out and get a result on Sunday. If we get a result I'll definitely be celebrating Sunday night. If not, I'll be locked up somewhere in a room.

"It would be unreal to score at Wembley in a Rovers shirt. It would be another big thing that has happened to me. Everything has gone really well for myself and this one would be the icing on the cake. It would be a great feeling to score there again. It would be the best birthday present I could ever have."

And if you're superstitious, you could suggest that the omens are in Derbyshire's favour.

Rovers will be wearing their change red kit tomorrow - the kit that Derbyshire has scored five of his seven goals in.

He added: "I was speaking to the kit man, Alan Whitehead, and he said: We've been shoved in the red kit because it's Chelsea.' "But I think it's good because I've scored quite a few goals in the red kit in the FA Cup so I hope it's a lucky omen for me."

And the young hitman already has experience of treading the new Wembley's hallowed turf as he played in, and scored, in the first match at the new stadium - the 3-3 draw between England and Italy Under-21s.

He said: "Wembley is unbelievable. Every aspect of the ground, the pitch, the stand, the changing rooms - everything is unbelievable. To be one of the first players to go out and play on Wembley, and to get a goal as well, was unreal.

"Seeing my England shirt on my peg, with the game and the date on it, was a good experience. Having your name on your peg and then going out to play I thought was unbeatable.

"If we get to the final, I'm sure it can be beaten."

Rovers fan Derbyshire, who used to work at the club's centre of excellence, will be cheered on by family and friends at Old Trafford tomorrow.

And he recalled cheering on his hometown club in their last FA Cup semi-final - a 3-0 defeat in 2005 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

"I went down with my cousin Greg and we had a good time but I was disappointed that we didn't get a result, but hopefully we'll get one this time," he said.

"There isn't a lot of expectation on Blackburn Rovers of us getting through, but there is amongst the players. As a fan, it was just one of those things, but and a player, and being around this group of players, we have big expectations of getting a result.

"It's another dream come true. Playing in a semi-final in unbelievable."

The England Under-21 international made a big impact on his first start for his country - and he's hoping to make a similar mark on the England captain, John Terry, when the pair clash tomorrow.

"It's going to be another big test for myself and hopefully I can give him a hard day rather than the other way around," he said. "I'm looking forward to it.

"Hopefully he won't find out what it's like to play at the new Wembley until England play there."