Adam El-Abd dreams of Shrewsbury giant killing
Adam El-Abd is wise enough to know not to take any lower league opposition for granted as the FA Cup once again rolls around.
Despite having a playing career span mostly across the Championship, the Egyptian knows all too well what it feels like to act the underdog.
His Brighton famously knocked Newcastle United out of the world's oldest football competition successively in 2012 and 2013.
Not content with that, the Amex outfit went on to push Arsenal mightily close in 2013, losing out as the Gunners scored three minutes from time to edge a 3-2 win.
El-Abd smiled as he reeled off the names: "Podolski, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wilshire, Giroud, Walcott."
It's a stark reminded that even seasoned pros from the second tier of English football can get themselves up for a cup giant-killing.
The prospect of being involved in the draw for the next round is not lost on skipper El-Abd, who is all too aware of Salop's recent pedigree in cup competitions.
Tomorrow it is League Two Barnet who visit Greenhous Meadow for Paul Hurst's first home game in charge of Shrewsbury.
"I watched the game last year against Manchester United and the game the year before against Chelsea too," recalled the skipper.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. It'll be nice to beat Barnet, just get the win and get the ball rolling.
"You grow up watching the FA Cup semi-finals and the final on TV and you always dream of playing in a final. It's a great competition and I always love playing in it.
"With Brighton we knocked Newcastle out a couple of times in back-to-back years. We then lost 3-2 in the last minute to Arsenal.
"It was a good day and will live long in the memory, in my career highlights. It's brought me that and it's a good competition. You get the opportunity to pit your wits against teams and players in higher leagues."
The Egypt international wrote his name in the Salop record books at Southend last week as his 25-yard thunderbolt powered into the top corner – the first goal under new boss Hurst.
"It was nice to score in the first game for the gaffer and get a point on the board for him," he added. "Hopefully it gets the ball rolling.
"If I'm honest – yes, I'd rather be in the league tomorrow because it'd give us a chance to propel ourselves off the bottom.
"Having said that it's a good game for us.
"It's the FA Cup, we all know league form and everything goes out of the window. But we'll be ready."
Ex-Grimsby chief Hurst and No.2 Chris Doig have arrived with a reputation of working their squads hard behind the scenes.
And with Shrewsbury lying rock-bottom of League One, five points adrift, El-Abd acknowledges that the hard work is a necessity.
"Training's been tough but enjoyable," said El-Abd.
"That's a really good balance. The lads are enjoying working hard and hopefully that'll show results-wise.
"It's good. I love working hard, the boys love working hard. If you put your hours in on the training pitch then that'll pay dividends on a Saturday.
"It's better to hurt on the training pitch than hurting on a Saturday, but we're doing it with a smile."
"Paul and Doigy have come in and given everybody a lift."
