While the majority of the island’s sportsmen and women get to grips with lockdown 2.0, one Manx star is gearing up for the biggest challenge of his career.

All eyes will be on Rossett Park on Sunday when Manx footballer Niall Cummins goes up against the likes of England captain Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min on Merseyside.

Minnows Marine AFC will be aiming to pull off one of the greatest ever upsets when the Crosby-based side host Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur in the third round of the prestigious English FA Cup.

The game will be televised live on BBC One, with coverage starting at 4.30pm ahead of kickoff at 5pm.

Cummins has already made his mark on this season’s Emirates-sponsored cup competition, netting a dramatic 120th-minute winner against Havant and Waterlooville in the previous round, also screened live on BT Sport.

When the draw for the third round was made, the Arsenal fan commented: ’I don’t even know where to start. Potential World Cup winner, World Cup Golden Boot and England captain Harry Kane, Wales captain Gareth Bale and a host of full internationals on show with Jose Mourinho desperate to win his first trophy.’

The Manxman then echoed those sentiments in an interview with the Sportsman recently when he said: ’Seeing Jose Mourinho here, I don’t know if it will be hysterical or brilliant.

’Marine’s technical area is one of a kind, one big stride and you’re on the pitch, but it will be really fascinating to see.

’I heard our manager was offered a sausage butty in the last round from someone in one of the gardens behind him. I can’t imagine Mourinho turning that down! It’s unique, but we deserve the chance we’ve created.’

The 33-year-old’s preparations for FA Cup games this season have been far from ideal though, having contracted Covid-19 shortly before the second-round clash with Havant plus being faced with juggling his full-time work as a PE teacher in Manchester during the ongoing lockdown restrictions.

’I find managing it hard. For Colchester away [in the first round when Marine won on penalties], I had to book half a day off work.

’If the Tottenham game goes ahead on a Sunday evening as rumoured, that’s awful because I’ll be up at 6.30am and going to work at 7! It’ll be a real shame.’

Having said that though, the former RYCOB player is relishing going up against some of football’s A-listers.

’It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing. We’re Cyclops and they’re Brad Pitt! It’s polar opposites - look at their squad: World Cup winners, a World Cup Golden Boot winner...my lord, it’s frightening!

’We’ll have a game plan and we’ll know what to do, but David versus Goliath was a closer fight, put it that way.’