HAVING scored in every round to date for Northwich Victoria, Tyneside-born Paul Brayson would love nothing more than for his run to continue at Sunderland tomorrow.
Brayson, who lives in Walker, was brought up in the city and was hailed as one of the club's bright talents when he emerged onto the professional scene as a teenager.
But, having failed to have an impact on a squad continually improved by large spending, the young striker had to move on in 1998.
And, after spells with Swansea, Reading, Cardiff, Cheltenham and Gateshead, Brayson has ended up at Northwich where he is proving to be an FA Cup hero.
As well as scoring one of the two goals in the second round replay win over Woking, the 28-year-old had also previously found the net against Morecambe (three) in round one and both Barrow (two), North Ferriby and Frickley (three) in the three qualifying rounds.
And now he is looking for that to continue against Sunderland, the arch-rivals of the club he has supported all his life.
"I have scored ten goals in the competition this season and, when you score goals in the FA Cup you tend to get noticed. I have enjoyed that," said Brayson, who was put through his paces in training this week by two faces he was at Newcastle with, John Barnes and Ian Rush. "I have won the player of the round competition twice and they tell me no-one has ever done that before.
"It's an achievement I'm proud of and I hope I can keep my run going.
"I have played in midfield at times in my career but, whenever I play up front, I feel as though I will score goals.
"I'm just looking forward to running out at the Stadium of Light. Our lads will have never seen anything like it. I don't know what the crowd will be but I'm hoping there are a fair few there.
"I'm expecting to get a bit of stick. The Sunderland fans will know about my Newcastle background and I'm sure I will get some grief. But it's not something that concerns me."
Read more about Sunderland here.
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