Phil Parkinson had no qualms about touching the Capital One Cup – and he wants his players to seize their night in the limelight against Arsenal.

Some managers consider it bad luck to get too close to the trophy but Parkinson was happy to feel it for size when the silverware was brought into City’s training ground yesterday.

The boss is determined that everyone milks the moment in the club’s first quarter-final appearance since 1989.

Parkinson said: “We have been enjoying the extra exposure this game brings. We’ve earned it, not just in terms of the run to get here but also the way the lads have remained focused in the league.

“I touched the trophy – any extra thing that comes with this game we are taking. The club deserve that extra attention.

“It is a night to enjoy but we can only do that if we play well. We want to perform to our maximum and if that isn’t enough for a win, then I will still be happy.”

Kyel Reid and Zavon Hines both joined in fully with the rest of the squad and Parkinson has plenty to ponder on his selection. With everyone desperate to play, he admits there will be some hearts broken.

“It is a tough call for me because I can only pick 11. Steve (Parkin) and I have to take the sentiment out of it and play the best team we can, while also making sure we don’t pick anyone too soon in terms of injuries.

“I couldn’t get the lads off the training pitch in the end! Though, to be fair, most days I’ll look round and the lads are still out there working on things.

“I’ve been at clubs sometimes where managers have said players have to practice after training. They would do it for a couple of weeks but then drop off and stop – here it is a natural process.”

As a player, Parkinson has seen both sides of a cup shock. He beat Premier League Leeds at Reading but also lost to Chorley with Bury.

As manager, he led Colchester to victory at then-top flight Sheffield United and ran Chelsea close at Stamford Bridge.

Success tonight would easily top the lot – and crank up the heat on opposite number Arsene Wenger.

But Parkinson, who had a short spell scouting in the north for Arsenal after leaving Charlton, believes the Frenchman deserves huge credit for what he has done.

He said: “I think they’ve qualified for the Champions’ League in each of the last 13 years. That is the second biggest prize in English football after the title.

“It’s a great achievement if you look at the resources they’ve had compared to the Manchester clubs.

“All supporters want trophies but that achievement can’t be taken too lightly. It’s ridiculous that people are talking about his future with the way he’s built the club.”

It’s probably just as daft to try to second guess Wenger’s team plans. He has made wholesale changes in the two previous rounds and Parkinson admits City’s scouting reports have been a stab in the dark.

“We have looked at the team who faced Olympiakos plus the Coventry and Reading cup games. We’ve tried to find a thread running through their team selection.

“It makes things a bit difficult but what won’t change is Arsenal’s style of play. If we go chasing all over the pitch, they will pick us off.

“We have to play with a shape and we want to use the crowd to hopefully take us to another level.”

What does look certain is that Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud will be missing with a back injury while Theo Walcott (calf), Laurent Koscielny (thigh), Bacary Sagna  (knee) and Andre Santos (stomach muscle) are also sidelined.