Dub heads to the Kop

Stuart James talks to lifelong Liverpool fan Graham Kavanagh about Wigan's visit to Anfield and early success in the Premiership

When Graham Kavanagh, a lifelong Liverpool fan, runs out at Anfield for Wigan tomorrow, he could be forgiven for smiling wryly when the first rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone reverberates around the stadium. It is an anthem which evokes memories of a special night in Dublin seven months ago when the Republic of Ireland midfielder and his international team-mates put aside their club allegiances to unite behind Rafael Benitez's side.

"We were preparing for a (testimonial) game against Celtic," said Kavanagh, recalling the evening of Liverpool's European Cup triumph over Milan, "and the manager gave us time off, so we went to a bar to watch it.

"The place erupted at the end; we all just went ballistic. Everyone was singing You'll Never Walk Alone. I was thinking to myself, I'm sitting here with players who all play for different clubs and we're all buzzing that Liverpool have won."

Kavanagh could have joined Liverpool at the age of 16, but signed for Middlesbrough instead, though his affinity with the Merseyside club remains, largely because of his roots in Dublin. His family are all Liverpool fans and 13 of them will travel over tomorrow for a game which he hopes will see Wigan return to winning ways in the Premiership after defeats against Arsenal and Spurs.

Since he missed the first two games of the season with injury, Kavanagh has featured in all Wigan's league matches, playing a key part in the club's ascent to fifth place in the Premiership.

On Wednesday night, though, he took a back seat as a Wigan side consisting mainly of reserves defeated Newcastle to reach the quarter-finals of the English League Cup.

"Rather than knock on the manager's door they showed with their performance what they can do," he said.

Kavanagh, who turns 32 today, has himself had to bide his time to prove his ability. After briefly experiencing Premiership football with Middlesbrough nine years ago, he dropped into the Football League with Stoke, before joining Cardiff in 2001.

Fears that his opportunity of returning to the top flight had passed were allayed in March when he signed for a Wigan side on the cusp of promotion.

"We didn't get paid on the Monday at Cardiff and on the Wednesday I was told I had been sold," said Kavanagh. "They sent a helicopter down and I flew in on the Friday and signed. They actually said: 'Can we land the helicopter in your back garden?' I said: 'Are you taking the piss?'

"In the end I went to a heliport and it landed just round the corner from the club. That was incredible. I was thinking, this is complete Footballers' Wives. Ten weeks later we were promoted and I was lying on the beach thinking, did that really happen, or was it a dream?"

Wigan have been dreaming ever since. Their startling form has confounded the critics who predicted an immediate return to the Championship. Even in defeat, Kavanagh finds positives.

"We've lost the last two (Premiership) games, but confidence hasn't been affected because of the performances we've put in."

Belief is also a product of Paul Jewell's approach to management.

"There are no grey areas in terms of what's wanted," said Kavanagh. "We all respect him massively, and that doesn't come by just barking out orders. That comes from the way he treats people and the way he is in and around the dressing-room. You can have a laugh with him, you can slag him and he can slag you, but when we are coming down to the serious business you certainly don't try to answer him back."

Anfield will certainly qualify as serious business for Kavanagh. It is a ground where he last appeared as a teenager for Middlesbrough's youth team. Almost 15 years later, he returns as a player eager to make the most of his second chance in the Premiership.

"It's come full circle," he said. "From my point of view, it's been a fairytale end to my career."