INCE: I BACK MY BOY TOM TO CASH IN
PAUL INCE has promised to give son Tom some pocket money if he helps to knock Manchester United out of the FA Cup.
Ince senior hit the heights in an illustrious playing career for Manchester United, Inter Milan and Liverpool.
But the ex-Blackburn boss will be a proud dad in the stands at Huddersfield this evening with Tom due to line up against United for a place in the quarter-finals.
Ince junior shone in the 4-1 fourth-round replay win at Birmingham with a goal and two assists to help set up tonight’s tie.
His dad, who played at Old Trafford from 1989 to 1995, said: “It will be a great occasion for me considering the years I had at United, and more so for Thomas.
“People have asked me who I am going to support. I say, ‘What do you mean? My flesh and blood is playing for Huddersfield and I want him to win.’ If he does all right he will get his pocket money!”
The ex-England skipper says he and his son scrutinise every performance.
“After every game he plays we sit down and go through a few things as we watch it again on DVD – not as father and son but more as a manager and a player,” he said.
“I might say that when he gets back to training he needs to do a bit more practice on this or that.
“He loves football and has the football genes. It is nice to have that passion, not all players do these days.”
Ince, who joined Terriers in the summer in an £11million switch from Derby, has scored just once in 26 appearances.
But Ince senior feels his son deserves another chance in the top flight after getting just 15 games in total at Hull and Crystal Palace in previous Premier League stints. “He was never really given a chance when he went to Hull or even Palace when he scored on his debut,” he said.
“He can still improve and that is why I hope Huddersfield stay up because I want him to keep playing at this level.
“When I see him walk out against Liverpool and Arsenal and all those teams, I am a proud dad.”
Huddersfield lost 2-0 at Old Trafford earlier this month but beat United 2-1 at home back in October.
Ince feels United were too complacent on that occasion and reckons David Wagner‘s side will fancy another upset at the John Smith’s Stadium this evening.
Ince, who won the Cup twice with United, added: “It is a great game for Huddersfield. In that previous game at the John Smith’s, the mentality among some of the United players seemed to be, ‘It’s only little Huddersfield.’
“They were just far too complacent in that game.
“Back when I played for United we had a team of leaders like Roy Keane, Steve Bruce and Bryan Robson.
“If you were slacking, someone like Keane or Brucey would tell you to get your act together. I didn’t see that last time at Huddersfield.
“It was like everyone just wanted to go through the motions – United cannot afford to do that again.”