Ross Hannah has been waiting five years to apply his own magic touch on the FA Cup.

The striker got a rare start at Bramall Lane and is keeping his fingers crossed to stay in the side to face Rochdale.

Having come through the non-league ranks, Hannah appreciates what the most famous of club competitions is all about.

He has his own FA Cup memories but the one that stands out is also the most frustrating.

Hannah was at Gainsborough Trinity when they reached the second round in 2006 and drew Barnet at home.

Unfortunately, he was reduced to a cheerleading role on the sideline having played for Stocksbridge earlier in the competition.

“I’d just moved from my last club so I was cup-tied,” Hannah recalled. “But I was still involved in all the build-up and remember the excitement around the place.

“We eventually lost 3-1 but it was a really good day. To see that side of it as a non-league player really meant a lot.

“It’s like Halifax getting to play Charlton. That’s a brilliant draw for them and what the FA Cup is all about.”

Hannah has had enough of the watching brief. Nine of his 13 appearances for City so far have been as a substitute.

Both his goals came from the bench to rescue points earlier in the season at Oxford and Morecambe.

That has earned him the reputation as an impact player but Hannah, who also missed a month after his injury against Huddersfield, is desperate to show he can be more than that.

He said: “Obviously when you’re on the bench, you’ve got no other option. You want to come on and do something good and make an impact on the game.

“But I want to be playing in the side every week, scoring as often as I can and getting us points.

“It’s frustrating if you’re not out there but at the same time you want the team to do well.

“I kick every ball while I’m sat there and do get a bit carried away. I banged my head on the dug-out the other week!

“But I’ve always been like that. I feel I’ve got so much to give to this team and the fans haven’t seen the real me yet.”

Parkinson has a more comfortable headache deciding on his team for the weekend. Hannah was one of five changes against Sheffield United and all put forward a decent case for keeping the shirts.

Whatever the line-up, the 25-year-old knows tomorrow offers a valuable opportunity to build confidence on and off the field away from the League Two spotlight.

“Everybody takes the competition seriously and we’ve got a good tie at home to Rochdale.

“It’s good to get away from the pressure of the league as well. We could do with the points but this is a break from that.

“I don’t think there’s been that much wrong. It’s just the consistency that’s lacking.

“We came unstuck last week against a good Cheltenham side but to have only one shot on target at home shouldn’t be happening.

“But we got a win on Tuesday and another one tomorrow would have everyone looking at things differently.

“Any kind of momentum would be good to take into the league. The FA Cup is a great place to get that.”