MIDDLESBROUGH star Gareth Southgate would love to claim his first FA Cup winners' medal at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium this year.

The 31-year-old centre-back, who has an impressive haul of 45 England caps, is regarded as one of the finest defenders in the country and is almost certain to travel to the World Cup this summer.

But, despite his glowing international record, a League Cup winners' medal in 1996 is all Southgate has to show for nearly 13 years as a professional.

The Watford-born linchpin was part of the Aston Villa side who lost out in a Wembley final to Chelsea, 1-0, in May 2000.

Although he did not play, he suffered as a raw 18-year-old along with the rest of the Crystal Palace squad when the Eagles lost to Manchester United in the 1989-90 final.

Now Southgate, who takes on Everton in the quarter-final clash tomorrow at the Riverside, is hoping to put the ghost of his FA Cup past behind him by helping Boro to their first trophy in a 126-year existence.

"I want to win things, no question. This is the best opportunity you're going to get in many respects," said Southgate.

"You just don't know what's going to happen in the future. Many people would have written us off against United earlier in the season.

"But next year you could be drawn against Arsenal or United earlier on, and then that could be another opportunity gone.

"The younger players - I remember Paul Merson used to say this all of the time - probably think they're going to get this opportunity to win every year.

"But it's not necessarily the case, unless you're in the top three or four that are always in the shake-up.

"I have had the experience of losing in a couple of semi-finals and that's no less disappointing than losing in the final in many respects.

"It would be no different if things didn't go right on Sunday.

"There would be a tremendous feeling of regret and what might have been, so we have to make sure we come off the field having done ourselves justice."

Should Boro finally bring success to Teesside then Southgate firmly believes that manager Steve McClaren would find attracting players to the club a lot easier.

McClaren has failed in his attempts to bring Manchester United strikers Diego Forlan and Dwight Yorke to the club, as well as Leicester City's hard-working midfielder, Muzzy Izzet.

And Southgate, who thinks club support would also be boosted, suggested players would be more tempted to move to the North-East if Boro enjoy success - which inevitably leads to playing in European competitions.

"The manager has talked about his long-term ambitions for the club," said the £6m signing from Villa last summer.

"And if you reach semis and finals of cup competitions then you attract fans in other parts of the country.

"If we can convert people to supporting us then that can only help.

"The same can be said about players. The higher the profile of the club the better opportunity the manager will have of attracting players.

"It's difficult when you're in the bottom three, but if we can reach the cup final then the manager will have a better chance.

"The supporters are starting to realise we could have a very good season. It could be very successful.

"They have only been to this stage once before, when they were beaten in the final, and now we have an opportunity to go one better."

The FA Cup has taken criticism from cynics in recent seasons, as the attraction of Champions League football appeals more to the Premiership's top teams.

But Southgate is adamant the most prestigious domestic trophy in the world still holds a massive incentive for the players, regardless of whether it is played at Wembley or Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

"I think every player in the country, whether it be a Man United or a Torquay player, would all love to be walking out at Cardiff in May," he said.

"The Millennium Stadium is a place where myself and players like Paul Ince have never played and it looks a fantastic venue.

"Even though we have won honours and have years behind us it's an experience we would all like to have.

"Qualification for the Champions League seems to have taken over everybody's way of thinking, but for those of us who have grown up with the competition it still has a special place in our hearts.

"This competition is unique in the world, not just for ourselves but for the players at non-league level.

"Every team in the country can partake so it's just as much about those teams as it is for the clubs at this stage of the competition.