NICK Townsend is determined to earn a crack at Manchester United after watching four clashes with Premier League big guns from the Rodney Parade dugout.

The 29-year-old, who starred in Saturday’s 1-0 win at Doncaster, will hope for a quiet night when the Exiles take on Eastleigh in a replay in the third round of the FA Cup on Tuesday (kick-off 7.45pm).

The financial implications of winning to earn a tie against the Red Devils are massive for the club - £105,000 in prize money, £110,000 for being on BBC One in the next round plus gate receipts and interest in the ‘brand’ – but for the players the carrot is sporting opportunity.

Townsend watched as Joe Day’s back-up when County beat Leicester and locked horns with Manchester City in his first season with the club.

He was on the bench when the Exiles took Brighton to penalties behind closed doors during the Covid campaign, while in the same season he was denied a bumper crowd when between the sticks for the League Cup wins against Swansea and Watford plus spot-kick loss against Newcastle.

Townsend was in goal against West Ham in the Carabao Cup in 2019 and against Southampton in 2021, although that 8-0 loss was not one to remember.

His back-up Jonny Maxted got the nod for the penalty shootout loss against Brentford in August but Townsend has been given the starts in the FA Cup so far.

South Wales Argus: County goalkeeper Nick TownsendCounty goalkeeper Nick Townsend (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

The Brummie is poised to be in the XI in Hampshire when it will be a tense occasion given that Manchester United, a fixture to eclipse any of the Exiles famous recent cup games, are waiting.

“Now we know the prize at the end of Tuesday's game we are definitely all fired up for it,” said Townsend.

The Exiles should have secured a place in the fourth round at Rodney Parade when they blew a number of good chances, saw Eastleigh reduced to 10 men at the end of the first half then hit the front through James Clarke shortly after the restart.

However, the Spitfire levelled thanks to Chris Maguire’s 82nd-minute penalty after top scorer Paul McCallum went down in the box.

County head to Eastleigh taking inspiration from round two when they drew 1-1 with Barnet but won 4-1 in North London.

“We were unlucky in the home game [against Eastleigh], and I don't think it was a penalty, but we didn't lose and we are still in the cup with a chance to progress,” said Townsend.

“We don't really need any motivation and we just need to make sure that we play our game. We know what they will come out with and we have to up our game, which we can do and we proved that against Barnet.

“A few of the lads have had cup runs in the past so we all know the job that we have got to do. We've just got to be professional and get that job done.”

Eastleigh have earned a crack at County on home soil but a small pocket of the 5,000-capacity Silverlake Stadium will be amber.

“We've sold out our allocation and with the noise that they make it will definitely feel like a home game,” insisted Townsend.