JAMES CAN HAUNT UNITED

WIGAN defender Reece James hopes to get a dream end to his year-long injury nightmare at Old Trafford today.

James, 23, who has been sidelined for 53 weeks by ankle ligament and tendon problems, will be on the bench when Warren Joyce’s Championship underdogs face Manchester United, his former club, in the FA Cup.

The Bacup-born left-back spent three years with United – but his only senior performance came in the humiliating 4-0 League Cup defeat at MK Dons in 2014.

James said: “I played for United at Old Trafford in a pre-season friendly against Valencia and for the Under23s, but playing there in front of a full house is something I’ve always wanted to do.

“I’m sure I’ll be giving the manager a nudge in the last 10 minutes, but I have only had seven training sessions and 45 minutes of a behindclosed-doors friendly.

“I was just getting back to fitness when the draw for the fourth round was made and it was an extra incentive to push myself that bit more.

“After the year I’ve had, it will be great to be involved.”

James, the younger brother of Leicester’s Matty James, is philosophical about failing to make the grade at United.

David de Gea was the only player to survive that mauling in Milton Keynes.

And he said: “There came a time when I had to admit to myself that I wasn’t going to make the grade at United.

“I have always felt that I was given a fair chance by the club. Looking back, it was that MK Dons game that killed me.”