IT was against Manchester United in 2003 that Nicky Hunt made his Premier League debut, and the chance to face the Red Devils once more will spur on the Accrington Stanley defender at Yeovil Town tonight.

Stanley travel to Huish Park for an FA Cup second round replay knowing that the winners will host United in the third round on January 4.

Hunt admits it is ‘probably one of the biggest games in the club’s history’, such is the prize on offer – both in terms of finance and prestige.

Stanley have not played United in a competitive first-team match since 1946 but Hunt has faced them several times and would relish the opportunity to face them again.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Hunt took on the likes of Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie during his days at Bolton Wanderers, having made his debut in the top flight at Old Trafford on the opening day of the 2003/04 campaign.

“It was a frightful experience, 70,000 people cheering Man United on,” he laughs now.

“They didn’t know who I was. They were thinking, ‘Who’s this tall lanky person?’.

“A game against United is an incentive for everyone and personally I played there about five or six times.

“You never lose the appetite to play on the biggest stages against world class players but we could get bogged down talking Man U this, Man U that.

“I’m probably the only one here who has played against the Premier League teams, but it’s all ifs and buts at the moment.

“If we don’t do our stuff tonight then it’s just a pipe dream again.”

Stanley drew 1-1 at home to Yeovil 10 days ago, before being drawn against United.

“It was about 20 seconds until the texts started!” Hunt says.

“People mithering for me for tickets, not saying congratulations about the draw!

“It’s all started again now people have realised we’re playing Yeovil tonight.

“I might just turn my phone off today until Wednesday morning.”

Hunt believes victory in front of 14,000 at Portsmouth on Saturday is ideal preparation for tonight.

“There’s no hiding the fact that tonight’s game is probably one of the biggest games in the club’s history,” said the 31-year-old, who hopes to be back in the starting line-up after coming on for the injured Rob Atkinson at the weekend.

“But Saturday has put us in an amazing stead to go there and cause an upset. We think we can win.

“Yeovil won’t underestimate us, I think they incredibly underestimated us when they came here and I don’t think they’ll do that again.

“But Saturday has put us in amazing stead to go there and cause an upset. It will be a difficult task, but we thrive on difficult tasks.

“Saturday was a prime example of that.”

“The main focus is not thinking about January 3 or whoever we’d play, it’s about tonight.”