FA Cup: Ideye wants to emulate Kanu

Brown Ideye

BROWN Ideye has set his sights on matching the achievements of friend and countryman Nwankwo Kanu by winning the FA Cup.

The 26-year-old has finally hit form at West Brom with four goals in three games since a move to Qatar fell through, ironically after West Ham pulled the plug on Carlton Cole’s move to the Black Country.

He scored twice as the Hammers were thrashed on Saturday and is now dreaming of Wembley, where Kanu was a Portsmouth hero in 2008, with goals in both the semi-final against West Brom and the final against Cardiff.

“For me he is like a mentor,” said Ideye when talking about the striker who also used to play for Albion.

“In Nigeria Kanu is one of the big players that everybody looks up to so I am happy that we talk. He calls me sometimes and I get some advice from him.

“For me I have never been there or played at Wembley so it would be a dream come true.”

West Brom are now in the quarter-finals and there is growing belief they have a chance of claiming their first FA Cup trophy since 1968.

Ideye beat the offside trap to put West Brom ahead in the 20th minute before a stunning strike from James Morrison made it 2-0 three minutes before the break.

Ideye headed in number three in the 55th minute before Saido Berahino finished the visitors off 18 minutes from time.