Jack Price has passion to spark Cup run

Last year's first-round tie with Oldham, which ended in replay defeat for Wolves, was the 22-year-old midfielder's first experience of the world's oldest cup competition.

Needless to say, he's keen to begin improving his record at Fulham tomorrow.

"It would be nice to get a good cup run and getting through a few rounds would help confidence levels in the league as well," he said.

"It's going to be a tough game at Fulham but it's one we are looking forward to.

"And we're got great backing from the fans which shows that everybody still really enjoys the FA Cup.

"It's a competition with so much history, and, even though it's an all-Championship tie, I'm sure it will be a good occasion."

And-wringing over the apparent slow "demise" of the cup has become an annual pastime among pundits and it is often wondered where the competition now stands for young players brought up on a diet of Premier League and Champions League football.

Yet Price, who is part of that generation, still holds it in the highest regard.

"As a kid I always followed the FA Cup," he says. "As a bit of an Arsenal fan I remembered them winning it to seal the double and it's the magic of that cup final day and lifting the trophy.

"That's the sort of thing you dream about as a fan and now I'm involved in it hopefully we can make some progress this season."

The re-emergence of Price has been one of the big stories at Molineux in recent weeks. His return from a loan spell at Leyton Orient and to the team has coincided with Wolves' upturn in form.

"It's worked out well in the end," said the midfielder, who made 30 appearances last season.

"The gaffer wanted me to go out and get some games and keep my fitness levels up and that's what happened.

"The aim was always to come back here and try and get in the team and now I have done that I need to keep doing well to keep my place.

"I just want to kick on again now and play as many games as I can over the second half of the season.

"If I could get somewhere near 30 again that would be great, but we will see.

"Like last season and any player you have games where you do well and games where you don't.

"When you are not playing well you have got to try and keep your confidence and come through it.

"Having played a couple of games it feels like I can perform at this level and it is about keeping that going."

After substitute appearances against Sheffield Wednesday and Brighton, Price started the last two games against Watford and Brentford.

"To win the two games made it even more enjoyable," he said.

"It was my first experience of the Championship and as the gaffer has said I think it is a more physical league and the fitness demands are probably higher.

"But footballing wise I don't think there is a major difference to last season.

"It has helped that I have been playing alongside players who I already know very well from last season, and that we have also been playing the same shape as much of last season.

"I've trained and played with Kev (Kevin McDonald) and Eddo (Dave Edwards) a lot and when you know each other's games that always makes a difference.

"We know as a team that if we can play and perform to our best then we should be able to give anyone a game in this division."