Nicky will make it so tricky for Leeds

NICKY BAILEY insists his Sutton team-mates will not be bullied by Leeds as they aim to grab cup glory.

Non-league Sutton’s midfielder, 32, was once bought by Middlesbrough for £1.4million and will push himself to repay the club that has brought him back in from the cold.

Bailey is your typical FA Cup cliche, a former Fulham junior who worked in a bookies and in a fruit and veg market with his dad when released before eventually being picked up by Sutton.

It was the start of a career that led him to Barnet, Southend, Charlton and that big-money move to Boro under Gordon Strachan. Now he is back at the club where it all started, grateful they signed him after a year-long injury and he cannot

wait to embrace another tilt at the big time when they face Leeds today on Sutton’s artificial pitch.

He said: “It’s lovely being back at Sutton. I signed last year and this club has progressed a lot since my first time here. They’re making a lot more money with the artificial pitch.

“Now playing Leeds with Sutton means quite a bit to me.

“We have nothing to lose. They won’t be used to our artificial pitch and the small crowd.

“We will try to make it as uncomfortable as we can for them. No TONY STENSON team will ever be able to bully us. Many have tried and failed. “We know we can match Leeds.” Speaking about his time at Boro, Bailey said: “Strachan signed me when all the Scottish lads went there.

“It was my first time away from London but they were good times with some good players.

“I made 100 appearances but I had a couple of injures.” LEED ROLE: Nicky Bailey