Yeovil mascot wants shirt from Man Utd skipper Wayne Rooney

While young Harris Hayter's dad, James, will be trying to outdo the England skipper on the pitch his son has his sights set on a player who is more of a hero to him than his father.

In fact, although Harris will be walking out as a Yeovil mascot he is actually a Manchester United fan.

So much so that he is plans to wear his red United kit under his home one!

That is why the boy Hayter plans to tackle Rooney about getting the shirt before they actually step out today.

And if he fails then he's asked his dad to try to get it for him after the game.

Harris's mission is one of the highlights in what will be a massive and emotional day for the Hayter family.

For dad, James, it is arguably the biggest game of his life in a career which has seen him score more than 170 goals, but who has commanded considerably less in transfer fees than the

£250,000-a-week the aforementioned Rooney earns in a week!

He says: "I'm 35 I've been a pro for 18-19 years and I've never played against a team this size before. It's what you really look forward to. To play against those

types of players is brilliant.

"You think it might have passed you by then this comes round and to say you've played on the same pitch as some of these Manchester United players is going to be a great

feeling."

Then he revealed what a dream day it will also be for Hayter Jnr.

"He just can't wait," said his dad. "Wayne Rooney is his favourite player but it's even better because he's going to shake hands with all the United players as

well.

> He wants to wear his Manchester United shirt under his Yeovil kit > and he might be asking Rooney for his shirt before the game in the > tunnel >  > James Hayter

"He wants to wear his Manchester United shirt under his Yeovil kit and he might be asking Rooney for his shirt before the game in the tunnel. He's buzzing."

The only sad note on an otherwise perfect day for the Hayters is that young Harris's grandparents won't be able to get to the game to see him and his dad in action.

James added: "Dad's got secondary cancer. He's on the Isle of Wight so he can't really move too far. The travelling wouldn't be good for him, but he'll be

watching it on telly."

And Hayter Snr can think of no better reason to dream of helping to produce one of those giant-killing upsets the FA Cup is so famous for and which they still talk about his first club,

Bournemouth, where Manchester were humbled 30 years ago.

"It shows it can happen," he added. "The manager told us it is almost something Yeovil is known for because they did so well in the FA Cup as a non-league team.

"They are one of the teams that has knocked the most league teams out.

"This club has a real history in the FA Cup and we're really look forward to the game.

"You would think United have probably had their wake-up call losing to MK Dons in the Capitol Cup earlier in the year. But hopefully we can catch them like that."

Louis van Gaal will be hoping his first experience of the FA Cup lasts longer than his nightmare League Cup baptism.

Like Yeovil it meant a trip to League One, MK Dons crushing United 4-0 back in August in the second round of the competition.

United were still searching for their first victory of the Van Gaal reign but today they arrive in the West Country on the back of a 10 game unbeaten run which has lifted them to third place

in the Premier League.

It was a largely under strength side and one which also contained soon to be sold players like Danny Welbeck, Javier Hernandez and Shinji Kagawa.

But it was a defeat which stunned Van Gaal and he will not want to suffer again in the FA Cup third round at Huish Park, especially against a side stuck at the bottom of the table.

He insisted: "We have to beat them, but every team in England wants to beat Manchester United so it will be difficult.

"I have never come across Yeovil before, but I travelled in Spain and Germany to play against lower-rated clubs.

"It is more difficult for the players to prepare, because it is not what they are used to. It is a smaller ground and a smaller pitch.

"Of course we wanted to win against MK Dons. But you always learn from games you lose."

Van Gaal accepts that the FA Cup is the best chance of the Dutchman landing some silverware in his first season at Old Trafford.

"It is the shortest way to success. We are very interested in the FA Cup. I think my players are also."he added.

Former boss Sir Alex Ferguson believed that United had under performed in the competition since the last time they won it in 2004.

Van Gaal doesn't want to come a cropper in his first ever game. "It is always a shock when you play against a lower team because you can assume you have to win but it is not like

that in football."he admitted.

"I have lost with Ajax against a lower team. I have lost with Barcelona against a Third Division team. I can't really remember it anymore. It is wiped out of my mind."