Patience has paid off for striker Jack Midson.
The former Histon hitman had to bide his time for much of the first part of the season, but he’s been a regular recently – and taken his chance.
So it’s understandable that he’s as hungry as any of the Oxford United players to do well at Wembley tomorrow.
“I had a few niggles, and the team was playing very well,” he recalled.
“The gaffer said to me ‘be patient’ and when I was recovering from my toe injury, I was patient then.
“It’s come good for me towards the end of the season and I think we have found good form, me and the team, in the last five or six games.”
The 26-year-old striker, who has scored eight goals in 25 starts and 19 substitute appearances for the U’s this season, well remembers watching big matches at Wembley on television when he was a boy.
“I watched the FA Cup finals and England playing on the pitch,” he said.
“I know it’s not the same as it was, but it’s still a lovely occasion, and hopefully we can make some history because there’s not a lot of history there at the moment.
“When you’re younger you always dream and wonder if you can play for your country.
“Maybe that won’t happen now, but if I can play there in a play-off final, that’s pretty good.
“All the players are excited and looking forward to it, but there seems to be some calm in the camp, and we’re focused on the game.”
Midson has never played at Wembley, but he has been a spectator.
“I’ve been there to watch,” he said. “I’ve watched Stevenage a few times in the FA Trophy, I’ve been given some tickets a few times so I took that up.
“But I’ve never played there. A few of the others lads have and they’ve said what a great place it is.”
Oxford are not short of attacking options with the players they’ve got.
“Sam (Deering) has been called up for the England (C) squad, and if you’ve got people like that on the bench, you know you’ve got a good squad.”
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