THE last man to lead Newcastle United out at Wembley was a Dutchman, and goalkeeper Tim Krul is aiming to emulate the figure who remains an icon in his homeland.

Ruud Gullit’s star was still in the ascendancy with the Newcastle faithful when he guided his team to an FA Cup final showdown with Arsenal almost 12 years ago.

Losing to the Gunners at the final hurdle typified Newcastle’s billing at the time of ‘nearly men.’ But Krul, still at junior school when the match was broadcast, is well aware of Gullit’s history on Tyneside and is bidding to go one better than his fellow countryman – continuing at West Bromwich Albion this afternoon.

After featuring in both of Newcastle’s third round ties with Plymouth this season Krul regards the competition as offering him a platform to showcase his talents.

While Steve Harper has blocked the Dutchman’s chances of making an impact in the Championship, the 21-year-old hopes he can use Newcastle’s cup exploits to put pressure on the club’s number one.

“The FA Cup is really big, especially in Holland.

Everybody knows it,” noted Krul, who has featured in only two Championship games this season.

“For me it is really important and I think it is for a lot of boys in the changing room.

“Our main priority of course is to get back into the Premier League, everyone knows that, but everybody looks forward to the cup draw. It will be great for me if we get further and further in this competition.

“For me, the cup games are my priority. I would love to keep playing all the way.

“But I’m not going to shout out if we get to the final I expect to play. I remember that happened to Harps (Steve Harper) and Shay (Given) as well. That would be the manager’s decision. I can’t do much more except try to prove myself, and hopefully in those games I do enough to make him have faith in me.”

Today’s trip to the West Midlands brings back happy memories for Krul. A head injury to Harper midway through the opening game of the campaign handed the youngster a chance to impress.

He didn’t disappoint with a man-of-the-match performance that ensured Newcastle survived the Baggies’ second half onslaught.

“I have got happy memories of West Brom, it’s a special game and a really big one for me.

“The game earlier this season was my league debut, the first game of the season and I have got really good memories of it. Hopefully I can come away with even better memories this time by helping us win.’’ And he admitted: “After that game, I didn’t expect to stay in the team.

“I remember coming on and the game going really quick. Harps got a kick in the head and I was told to warm up.

“At half-time, I was told ‘you’re playing.’ It was a great feeling, I didn’t expect that in the first game of the season.

“You tell your friends back home ‘yeah I’m hoping to get games this season’ but you don’t expect it to be so quick.

It was special, really special.

“I have a year and a half left on my contract. I will learn from Steve, but I have no intention of being a number two for as long as he was because I’m 21 now and I have enough years in front of me.

“I know of the great Ruud Gullit and Van Basten from 1988, everybody in Holland does, but for me Edwin van der Sar is my main hero.

“When I was six I saw my first game with him there and since then I have never stopped following him.”

Whatever today’s result, Krul can at least reflect on going at least one round better than his hero in this year’s competition.