LONDON is calling for Fraser Fyvie.
The former Aberdeen midfielder, who celebrates his 20th birthday today, is understandably frustrated about his inability to make a single appearance in the Barclays Premier League since joining Wigan Athletic last summer, but the minor ignominy of merely being regarded as a regular component of Roberto Marinez's 'cup team' does not seem quite so bad when it can take you all the way to Wembley.
The Lancashire side will grace the hallowed turf next month in an FA Cup semi-final against npower Championship outfit Millwall, making them short-price favourites to contest the final against either Manchester United, Chelsea or Manchester City this May.
Fyvie has a claim to participate in both, having made all seven of his first-team appearances in the knockout competitions, including the club's FA Cup adventures against Bournemouth, Macclesfield and Huddersfield Town, if not their imperious quarter-final dismissal of Everton. However, even if it is to be a watching brief at Wembley, judging by the way the player confidently patrolled around the midfield for Billy Stark's Under-21 side in their 3-0 victory against Luxembourg on Monday night, it only seems a matter of time before he is given a more tangible chance to stake his claim.
"I have never been to Wembley; I have never even driven past it," said Fyvie. "But everybody knows what it means to play there. I have played at Hampden before, which was a big thing for me. But playing at Wembley would be special because it is a special ground with a special atmosphere.
"You would hope we would have a good chance against Millwall but it is a cup game so you don't know what will happen. I haven't made an appearance in the Premier League yet. Obviously that is what I am pushing to do, to show the manager I am capable of it. I didn't play in the quarter final against Everton when we won 3-0 but hopefully I can push for a semi-final spot. He [Martinez] might go with experience, or he might give a few young lads a chance again in the cup, and if so hopefully I will be one of them."
On the occasions when he does get frustrated, at least Fyvie can rely on the soothing words of James McArthur and James McCarthy – two of a Scots-born contingent which also includes Gary Caldwell and Shaun Maloney. Both Jameses also had to bide their time before becoming midfield mainstays at the DW Stadium. "You do get a bit frustrated when you are left out of the squad," Fyvie said. "But they say to me 'bide your time because we had to as well. Your time will come' and that kind of thing.
"Every day at training Roberto passes on advice to everyone, it doesn't matter if you are 30 or you are 19. Most people recognise he is a very good manager and I am really enjoying it; I just need to break into the team then I will enjoy it even more. When you are playing with Premier League players you are going to improve; you have to. Your sharpness, your awareness, your touch, your passing, everything has got to improve to get to that level."
The big news in Wigan in recent times has been the row over Callum McManaman's trial by media, but escape from FA action, over his challenge on Newcastle United's Massadio Haidara, but Fyvie feels his team-mate doesn't merit his reputation as Public Enemy No 1. "He has never been that sort of guy," said Fyvie. "It was just one of those things that happens and I am sure it won't happen again."
Next up for Billy Stark's side in their Euro 2015 Group 3 campaign is a trip to the Netherlands in September. It is a match Fyvie is already anticipating, not least because he wasn't selected when James Forrest and Jordan Rhodes helped Stark's last lot win there in November 2011. "I watched it on telly," he said. "I just never got the call because I wasn't in great form at Aberdeen. But we are going back to Holland in the next game and hopefully we can get a result."
Before then, however, is the small matter of this August, when Scotland will travel to London to take part in a 'friendly' to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of the FA. It could become quite a Wembley hat trick for Fyvie, even if he has to travel as part of the Tartan Army for the occasion. "Of course I would go to Wembley as a fan," he said. "You want to support your country, and support your team-mates. And there definitely shouldn't be any shortage of comp tickets at Wigan."
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