THE ROAD to Wembley is seldom smooth but for Hull City midfielder David Meyler the journey to a FA Cup final has been one potholed by adversity.
Three years ago Meyler was digesting the news he may not walk freely again after suffering his second cruciate ligament injury in the space of eight months.
Steve Bruce, his then manager at Sunderland, held private fears it was all over for the Irish youngster.
The doubts raised by specialists, however, failed to account for Meyler's fortitude.
A playing return in October 2011 followed 10 months of rehabilitation and began an uplifting story that will hit a new peak in Saturday's FA Cup final against Arsenal.
Meyler has fought for his big moment in the sun and has no intention of letting it pass him by.
"I was told I might never walk properly again so you can put that in context. To play in a FA Cup Final – I don't know if I will be playing yet obviously – but to have the opportunity would be fantastic.
"It'll be a remarkable day for me and the family, all the other players and their families and the manager. It will be a fantastic day out and I believe we are going to win it. Please God we will."
Meyler's excellent 18 months with City can be classed as reward for the torment felt with Sunderland.
Two injury-hit seasons yielded just 12 Premier League appearances but the 25-year-old has learned to be pragmatic.
He said: "I would not say it drives me on but I appreciate the small things a lot more. When you spend 18 months out injured it is never nice.
"I had made a right mess of my leg, that I would not be right for a long time.
"The first time was that bad, the second time felt like someone had broken my finger nail but it was the length of time I needed after the first one.
"When you are training every day you relish it and enjoy it and I look at a couple of players in our squad who have not been as lucky as me to play so many games this season and I have been in your situation. I know what you are going through keep your heads down and keep working hard."
Meyler's perseverance has reaped rich dividends.
As well as becoming a Premier League for the first time, starting 27 games in City's bright campaign, he has a summer of internationals to plan for with the Republic of Ireland.
First comes the brilliant swansong to the season at Wembley but Meyler admits it is a relief still to be involved.
Last week's 3-1 defeat at Manchester United ended on a sour note when Meyler appeared to stamp on opponent Adnan Januzaj, an incident Ryan Giggs called "a joke."
City were made to sweat for 24 hours before the Football Association opted to take no action.
Meyler said: "It could have been taken the wrong way, but it was an accident in the sense that it was clumsy from me, I was tired, it was the 90th minute and Januzaj was too quick for me.
"My leg is in the air, he's kicked the ball away and as I'm coming to plant my foot to push off I've ended up accidentally standing on top of him.
"The referee has seen it and realised there was no malice in it. He is a fantastic player and I wish we could have got up to him earlier in the game.
"Of course there was a worry and some anxiety. Sometimes things can be taken the wrong way or over the line but it is all done and dusted and I can look forward to the cup final."
Lying in wait for Meyler are Arsenal. Chasing a first trophy in nine years, the expectation rests heaviest on the Gunners and Meyler was only too happy to add to the weight.
"I'd rather be the underdog," said the City man, who scored the decisive final goal to see off Sheffield United 5-3 in the semi-final.
"People are delighted when the underdog wins – I don't think many people want Arsenal to win.
"The pressure is all on them to win it. We have not been given a chance in the last two years. We were not favourites to go up last year and we were favourites to go down this year.
"But being the underdog isn't the worst thing in the world and we've just got to use it to our advantage.
"Nobody expected Wigan to win it last year but they made it difficult for Manchester City the whole game and they deserved to win it."
