While on loan at Newcastle from Metz - coincidentally against Manchester United - in 1999, Saha did not make the bench at Wembley for the FA Cup final, despite coming on as a substitute seven days earlier in the Magpies' Premiership win over Blackburn.

Five years later, the Frenchman was cup-tied for United's FA Cup triumph over Millwall, having previously played for Fulham in the competition before his £12.8million switch to the Red Devils. Then last season, Saha's misery continued when injury ruled him out of the Red Devils' penalty shoot-out defeat by Arsenal.

"I have missed three finals for various reasons, so I am desperate to play in one. I thought it would be easy coming to United and winning medals. You might not play well but you'd get a medal anyway. But it hasn't happened. It has been a very frustrating time but this is something to savour."

Saha has only just emerged from two years of almost constant injury. At one stage, the forward was cruelly dubbed 'Man of Glass' by one leading Red Devils fanzine and even Saha admits at times he was ashamed by his frequent absences.

"I was always confident I would score goals if I got a decent run in the team. The injuries have made it quite difficult for me to keep my confidence up. But I have been playing for three months now, which is good. Hopefully it will continue.

"After all I have been through, winning the Carling Cup would be a bit of a release. But I am a competitor and I am looking for a lot of things. It is not just about me though.

"Everyone is looking to win something because we have missed a chance to establish ourselves in the Champions League. The Carling Cup was not a priority but it is something we can win, so let's do it."

Ryan Giggs says:

"My first medal was the League Cup in 1992 and that sparked a run of success. It could do the same thing again. Hopefully we can go on and win more trophies.

"The young players in the team want to experience winning trophies. Then once you’ve had that taste, you want to win even more."