HE might have played at Wembley on the computer game FIFA, but for Darlington midfielder Jamie Chandler, that scenario is about to become a reality.

Chandler will be part of the Darlington side that walks out at the home of English football today, and the day will cap off what has been a remarkable season for the 22-year-old, having spent three months out in the cold after a disappointing start to the season.

The South Shields-born midfielder completed his permanent move to The Northern Echo Arena last summer, after impressing during a loan from Sunderland the previous season.

After featuring quite heavily in the opening stages of the season, Chandler was one of a few causalities as Cooper reshuffled his side in a bid to turn things around.

However, three months later the midfielder found himself back in Cooper's starting line-up and has since become an integral part of Darlington's revival in the second half of the season.

Should he start today, it would mark some turnaround for the midfielder, who admits the closest he thought he would ever come to playing at Wembley would be at home on his PlayStation.

"It's scary to think I'm going to play at Wembley," the former Sunderland trainee said.

"I'm a bit of a geek at home. I play on FIFA the PlayStation and, like everyone, you play on it as yourself at Wembley and now it's going to happen for real. It's an amazing opportunity for us.

"It's quite unreal when I think about it. Obviously at the start I wasn't really in the gaffer's plans.

"I don't know whether that was down to me not working hard enough or whatever, but it certainly gave me a kick up the backside.

"I went away, worked really hard on the training pitch and away from it and then I've got back in the side. I'm glad I've played a big role in the turnaround and to finish it off hopefully playing at Wembley would be great."

An appearance today would be Chandler's 50th for the club, though prior to Quakers he spent 12 years at Sunderland coming through the youth set-up at the Academy of Light.

During that time, Chandler was involved in England's youth set-up, rooming with former Newcastle United striker Andy Carroll.

Despite growing up as an avid Magpies fan, Chandler has never set foot in Wembley, old or new, and says the biggest crowd he has played in front of is 4,000 in youth games at the Stadium of Light and St James' Park.

With an expected 20,000-crowd at Wembley, Chandler admits he is bracing himself for the biggest day of his career so far, but insists his side must not be overawed by the occasion.

"It's the old saying, isn't it? Everyone says they always dreamed of playing at Wembley as a kid," he said.

"It's been my first proper season. It's probably taken me a while to adapt, but it's going to finish at Wembley and I can't ask for any more than that. It'll be my 50th game so it'll be an extra special occasion if selected.

"One hundred per cent, the final will be the biggest day of my career. Playing for England when I was a youngster was a special moment but professional wise it's going to be massive.

"I might not do it again, fingers crossed I will. I've never been to the new Wembley and I never went to the old one so it's just going to be surreal.

"Even when I supported Newcastle I never got the opportunity to go. I was always playing academy games at Sunderland, but everyone I've spoken to has said it's just an amazing occasion and you can't let it pass you by on the day."

In the build-up for Quakers' biggest day in recent years, Chandler revealed what he will do to make sure he is ready.

"I'll probably go to Nandos a couple more times. I usually go twice a week but I might go three or four times!

"The gaffer just told us to do everything we can in preparation so we can give 100 per cent. It's hard to say treat it like every other game because it's not, it's something special but I'll do everything I can and I think there'll be a few sleepless nights before then."