SCOTTISH international Don Hutchison, dreaming of an FA Cup glory run with Sunderland, said last night: "Medals mean more to me than money."

The 29-year-old Tynesider, now with his sixth club, knows that he is running out of time if he wants to put some silverware in his trophy cabinet, and after making a couple of quarter-final appearances with Everton he is dying to go all the way.

He said: "It's every footballer's dream to get to an FA Cup Final.

"A lot of players can go through their careers and never get a medal.

"I am getting to the stage now where I am desperate to get a medal.

"I have had some good moves in my career but I would love to have something tangible to remember at the end of my career.

"That's the whole point of being in the game for me - it has nothing to do with money it is about winning medals."

Hutchison cannot remember the last time he missed watching an FA Cup Final, especially with his birthday falling on May 9th, always near the big day at Wembley.

This year the Final will be staged at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, but this does not detract from Hutchison's burning ambition to be part of the big day.

"I think I've seen just about every single final since I was a boy - it is just a fixture everyone looks forward to at the end of the season.

"What makes it special for me is that the Cup Final is normally played around May 9, which is my birthday.

"I remember Liverpool beating Sunderland 2-0 in the FA Cup Final on March 9th 1992 - I was just a young boy at Liverpool then and we all travelled down to Wembley together to watch the game."

Hutchison played his part in the Third Round games against Crystal Palace and is hoping to continue the run against Ipswich, though he warns the 4-1 victory on New Year's Day will mean nothing in the cup.

He said: "All you have to do is look at Bradford - we went there on Boxing Day and won 4-1 and everyone was expecting us to get the three points at home.

"Managers and players get wise to the opposition when you play each other in a short space of time.

"Over the years it is quite weird how you can get drawn against someone in the two cups like we did against Palace or in the FA Cup after playing them in the League like against Ipswich.

"Every single player has to be on top form if we are going to win. Ipswich have got a lot of good players."

Hutchison, as he says, is desperate to make a Cup Final appearance, and he hopes to be travelling to Cardiff on May 12.

He said: "It makes absolutely no difference that the FA Cup Final won't be at Wembley this season.

"I watched Liverpool beat Crystal Palace in the Worthington Cup the other night and I just wished we'd been in their shoes going to Cardiff for the final playing for a European place.

"When you are involved in different competitions it keeps the season going and keeps the fans happy - every other week you are playing a different game and before you know it you are in a cup final like Liverpool are now.

"I don't think a successful Cup run can have a detrimental effect on League form - as far as I am concerned success breeds success.