Milton Lindsay Norfolk-born footballer Danny Wright is polishing up his shooting boots and preparing to play the game of his life this weekend. The eyes of the nation will be on the Histon striker and his team-mates as they bid to write another fairytale chapter in FA Cup history when they entertain former Wembley winners Leeds United in a televised second round tie on Sunday lunchtime.

Milton Lindsay

Norfolk-born footballer Danny Wright is polishing up his shooting boots and preparing to play the game of his life this weekend.

The eyes of the nation will be on the Histon striker and his team-mates as they bid to write another fairytale chapter in FA Cup history when they entertain former Wembley winners Leeds United in a televised second round tie on Sunday lunchtime.

And Wright, who booked the Cambridgeshire side's place in the second round with the only goal of the game against Swindon, would love nothing more than to strike again for the underdogs in the sell-out encounter against the League One high-flyers at the Glass World Stadium.

“Obviously we are going to need a lot of help and luck to get through to the third round. But Havant and Waterlooville played at Anfield last year and maybe this year it could be us,” he said.

Wright, who also scored twice in the first round 5-2 replay win against Durham Town, expected the nerves to kick in as the big day approached.

“Everyone is really excited and looking forward to the game. It's the biggest game in the club's history and the biggest game in my life as well,” said the 24-year-old hitman. “Obviously when I was playing for Dereham and doing quite well I never dreamed it would lead to this.”

He is well aware that he will be in the shop window on Sunday - perhaps one step away from being catapulted into the spotlight further up the football pyramid.

“Being on TV in such a high-profile game means there are going to be a lot of people watching - you never know who's watching.”

Before he joined Histon, Wright, who has had trials with Grimsby and Gillingham, had seen his dreams of a professional career cruelly dashed at the final hurdle when he failed a medical after being offered one-year contract by then Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd.

“I was struggling with a back injury and a stress fracture was discovered. When I recovered fitness the opportunity had gone,” he said. “When I got offered the contract it was at the end of the season when they had won promotion to the Premier League. Histon came in for me after that and I thought I had nothing to lose so I would go with them.”

It proved to be a wise move as Wright, who signed in March 2007, topped the scoring charts with 18 goals for Histon last season and has notched up nine so far this term. He is playing for a team that is currently top of the Blue Square Premier league and hoping to book a place in the Football League next season - as well as leave a mark on this season's FA Cup.

The 6ft 2in goalgetter's exploits are understood to have registered on the radar of Norwich City talent-spotters, during their well documented search for a tall, physical front man.

“Four or five years ago I was playing for my local team Attleborough. Everything has taken off pretty quickly. I have done it the hard way though. I have come in through the back door,” said Wright, who still lives in Attleborough, and works as a carpenter in the area.

Extra training sessions have been added this week as Histon prepare for the visit of the Yorkshiremen. Managed by Gary McAllister, they are set to include former Canary captain Andy Hughes in their ranks this Sunday.

“We have done quite a bit of homework on them this week. We know that Jermaine Beckford up front for them is pretty handy and has scored a few goals.

“But we will just play our own game and see where it gets us.”

One incentive Wright has is to silence one of Leeds' most vociferous fans - Radio One's motormouth DJ Chris Moyles.

“I hear he has been talking about the game a lot. If we win it would be nice to ring him up on his show on Monday morning and have a word,” laughed Wright.

t Histon v Leeds United is live on Anglia on Sunday (kick-off 12.15).