Albion ace after cup hat-trick

Albion full-back Carl Hoefkens is targeting a personal hat-trick of winner’s medals as Albion prepare to face Portsmouth at Wembley tomorrow.

The defender wants to add an FA Cup victory to the two successes in Belgium’s domestic cup.

And he admitted today that lifting the cup with Albion would top his achievements in his homeland.

“I won two Belgian FA Cups with Lierse and Germinal Beerschot, when we beat the champions Bruges in 2005, and I lost in the final once,” said Hoefkens.

“The FA Cup is much bigger though, we’ve done well to get so far and I hope we can finish it off. I’m looking forward to seeing 33,000 Albion fans at Wembley and I hope the new stadium doesn’t collapse when they all start boing, boinging.”

Hoefkens will run out at Wembley for the first time tomorrow and he will be watched by millions of his countrymen, with the semi-final against Pompey set to be screened live on Belgian television. “It’s great to be part of the club at the moment,” said Hoefkens.

“Everyone is buzzing and really happy to be going to Wembley.

“It’s great so many fans can all come together for such an occasion and it will give them a buzz for the rest of the season as well.

“We’re really up for the semi-final and it’s a nice opportunity to show what we can do. The dressing room is buzzing.

“It will be the first time I’ve played at Wembley.

“It’s a massive stadium and it’s got a big tradition as well. I’m really looking forward to it.

“All my friends and family back home in Belgium will be watching me. It will be great for them to see me playing for West Brom on a big stage.”

Hoefkens is braced for a tough examination from Portsmouth at Wembley but he is confident Albion can progress to the final before moving back into the Championship at Blackpool on Tuesday.

“Portsmouth have got loads and loads of qualities,” he said.

“They’ve got lots of internationals and have a big squad. They know how to defend and they will be a hard team to beat.

“It’s good that we’re not the favourites because all year long we have been favourites.

“It’s a nice opportunity to show what we can do against Premier League opposition. We shouldn’t put too much pressure on ourselves.”

“We need to go there, do our best and that should be enough.

“Because we play in the Championship we’re used to playing so many games in a week.

“We’ve all played loads and loads of games so one more won’t make much difference.

“The preparations are just the same as if we were playing a team in London.

“It’s a massive game but we can’t over-hype it.

“We’ve got Portsmouth at Wembley and then in complete contrast we go to Blackpool three days later in the league.

“But that game is just as important for us and we need to be ready for it.

“We won’t be able to celebrate on Saturday if we win because we must stay focussed.

“Hopefully we will be celebrating come the end of the season.”