Newport County defender Scot Bennett has talked up the influence of one Manchester United legend ahead of the League Two side’s forthcoming FA Cup tie.
Newport County secured a 1-1 draw with 10-men Eastleigh in the third round of the FA Cup earlier this month, with a replay of the match scheduled last week.
Following on from the result at the Rodney Parade, Newport County travelled to the Silverlake Stadium and secured a 3-1 victory over Eastleigh in the FA Cup tie.
Graham Coughlan’s men punched their ticket to the fourth round of the FA Cup and will now host Manchester United at the Rodney Parade on Sunday.
United booked their place in the fourth-round tie after Erik ten Hag’s men defeated Wigan 2-0 in the FA Cup clash at the DW Stadium earlier this month.
Scot Bennett is a boyhood United fan and the Newport County defender candidly opened up about the impact the Premier League club had on his life growing up.
READ MORE: Newport County vs Man Utd: live stream info, TV channel and prediction for FA Cup match
Bennett ‘massively looked up’ to United legend
Speaking to the South Wales Argus, Scot Bennett opened up about his family’s close connection to Manchester United and about his first time visiting Old Trafford.
Bennett, who has made 38 appearances across all competitions this season, played the full 90 minutes in both of Newport County’s matches against Eastleigh.
With Bennett relishing the opportunity of facing United, the 33-year-old defender revealed that he “massively looked up” to Red Devils legend David Beckham.
“All my family apart from my dad are Man [United] fans and it was my gran that took me up to my first game at Old Trafford,” he said.
“I’ve been up there a fair few times to watch them so to play against them is surreal.
“My first game was a Champions League game on a Tuesday night against Nantes and David Beckham scored a free-kick, so I was very happy as he was my favourite player.
“I massively looked up to him and Paul Scholes was just unbelievable. Playing in midfield and seeing what he could do – you just idolise him, don’t you?”
Bennett wants to keep three United players ‘quiet’
Newport County will enter the tie against United as the fierce underdogs and will be hopeful of causing a sensational FA Cup upset.
While Chris Sutton has backed United to win, Bennett said he will do everything he can to keep the likes of Rasmus Hojlund, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho quiet.
“I’ve always said in recent years that Man [United] is the one I’d really like before retiring, which I don’t see happening just yet,” he said.
“It is one that I have always wanted to tick off and when the draw was made I was buzzing, although obviously we had a big task to beat Eastleigh in the replay.
“This week will be surreal and those of us that are United fans have been joking about playing for a draw to play at Old Trafford and tick that box off as well.
“Hopefully I’m picked and then it’s either running around the field with Bruno Fernandes in midfield or trying to keep Hojlund, Rashford and Garnacho quiet.”
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