Recent Town signing Darren Currie enters the FA Cup at the third round stage for the first time on Saturday, the midfielder having spent much if his career playing for clubs in the lower divisions. Currie told TWTD that he is thoroughly enjoying his time at Portman Road.

The winger's previous FA Cup highlight was a tie against Fulham during his Wycombe days when the Chairboys narrowly lost a replay to the Premiership side.

He says the Bolton game gives Town a chance to show how they would cope against Premiership clubs: "Tomorrow's game will give us an insight into what we will - hopefully - be up against next season. It won't be easy, it never is against a team from a higher division."

Currie has made a big impact in the six games since his move from Brighton for £250,000, scoring three times and creating a number of other goals, and says he has settled in quickly: "It's the first time I've played at this level and I believe I've adapted to it quite well. I've certainly enjoyed it.

"Scoring in your debut is always the best way to start your career with a new club and it couldn't have gone any better that day at QPR.

"To be honest, the first six games over the Christmas period have gone very well. I've set myself a standard now and I'm going to pride myself on trying to keep to that standard."

Currie isn't sure why he didn't get a move to a higher division earlier in his career but thinks his consistency over a number of seasons finally earned him the step up: "It's a tough one. Over time I have been linked with several clubs but the move never came about.

"I think perhaps over a period of time the more consistent I've proved to be, the more interest there's been, and people have decided that now is the time to sign me.

"I remember my manager at Barnet saying after I'd had a good season there that people would be interested because I'd done well that year but that they would look to see if I could show the same form the next year as well.

"Each year I've done well someone has always asked if I can do the same again. And the more I've consistently done what I'm good at, the more interest there's been."

Currie's skills-a-plenty style is becoming increasingly familiar to Town fans but he says his tricks aren't just for show: "They're tricks and flicks with an end product, I'm not just out there trying to entertain; they're a means to an end.

"That's part of my game, part of my make up and they just come naturally. It's just my way of using the ball and trying to make myself some space to get a cross in, make a pass or have a shot.

"It's instinctive. I would say that most skilful and tricky players would say that; you don't work on tricks, they come quite naturally.

"Bolton's Jay-Jay Okocha for example, that trick where he drags it and then steps over it, he does that naturally and he's got that absolutely off to a tee. That's as natural to him as my body-swerve to pretend to cross before I cut back on the other foot. That comes naturally without me even having to think about it.

"I enjoy watching flair players as much as anyone and my idol at the moment is Zinedane Zidane. He's not trying to be flash or arrogant but they way he uses the ball to make himself space is just full of class and he's unbelievable to watch."

The 30-year-old's uncle Tony, a player in a similar mould, played at a time when there were numerous flair players in the game: "He was in an era when there were a good seven or eight other players classed as entertainers, a 'maverick' I always hear him called.

"At the end of the day he would do a nutmeg or a body-swerve but there was always a meaning to it. And having it in the blood, that's how I play the game too."

The Currie of the 70s is yet to see his nephew in action with his new club as he works at Sheffield United in their community department as well as doing radio and hospitality work, but the Town number 10 is looking forward catching up with him when the Blues make the trip to Bramall Lane on February 5th.

But before then there is the important matter of the FA Cup and Currie sees Town's home form as a crucial factor: "On paper they're in the Premiership, we're in the Championship and that weighs in their favour. But we're at home and we're strong at Portman Road.

"It's a very interesting game. We're going into it on the back of a reasonably good Christmas - four wins out of six - and the lads are confident. One thing I have learnt since I've been here is that the belief within the team is such that every time we step out on the pitch we feel we are going to beat the team we're playing against, and that won't be any different tomorrow."

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