KARANKA: I HANKER FOR NEXT CRACK AT BIG BOYS

AITOR KARANKA has urged Nottingham Forest to give themselves another shot at gunning down a Premier League giant.

The Reds dumped FA Cup holders Arsenal out in one of the stories of the third round (above) – a day before Karanka was officially handed the reins.

They face Hull today and the new boss (below) said: “I have very good memories in this competition.

“We beat Manchester City when I was at Middlesbrough. If we go into the next round and play a big team, it will be nice.

“We played Arsenal and to play another team like that would be good for the players and good for their careers.

“It is an amazing competition and, when we are not doing so well in the league, it is particularly important for our crowd.”

Forest are 14th in the Championship, 10 points ahead of today’s hosts Hull, who they beat 3-2 at the KCOM Stadium in October thanks to a hat-trick from on-loan Everton star Kieran Dowell (above).

But Forest, full of confidence after beating Championship leaders Wolves last weekend, must be careful what they wish for. Though they beat Newcastle in the League Cup in August, they were pasted 5-1 at Chelsea in the next round.

Karanka added: “The players need to know that the game against Wolves was amazing but it is in the past.

“If we go to the game on Saturday thinking it is going to be easy, because Hull are a worse team than Wolves, we are in trouble. They are in a different position in the table but that does not mean it will be an easy game. We need to prepare as well as we did against Wolves.”