CUP HERO’S A MCCLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER

GARATH MCCLEARY is desperate for some more FA Cup magic, six years after scoring in a semi-final against boyhood club Arsenal.

The Wycombe winger set up extra-time with his goal against the Gunners (left) as former side Reading so nearly reached the 2015 final, eventually losing 2-1 at Wembley.

Mccleary came close to quitting football after leaving the Madejski Stadium in the summer before Wycombe came to his rescue.

Now he is loving life at Adams Park and keen for another crack at the FA Cup, even though rock-bottom Wycombe are struggling badly in the Championship.

Mccleary, 33, said: “We will approach this exactly the same. A good run in the competition can be good for any team. We want to go as far as possible. If we can win the game, hopefully we can take into the league.

“I’ve always loved the FA Cup. Scoring against Arsenal, my boyhood team, was a moment I relished.

“There was a point last year where I considered what I would do after football. So I really just thankful this came up at Wycombe.

“There is so much spirit and togetherness here. We’ve been unlucky not to win more games this season.”

Wycombe today take on a Preston side who beat them 5-1 at Adams Park at this stage three years ago.

But North End manager Alex Neil, who cannot play cup-tied new signing Ched Evans, said: “They have moved on significantly from that spell and are in the same division of us so we know it is going to be a tough game.”