Leicester City's Robbie Neilson chases second slice of Cup glory

One Leicester City player knows exactly what it feels like to win the FA Cup.

Robbie Neilson, below, lifted the Scottish version when Hearts beat Gretna at Hampden Park in 2006.

As City prepared to take on Swansea in the third round of the FA Cup today, Neilson looked back on one of his greatest, and proudest, moments in the game so far.

"We had a great run that year, it was great to savour the final, the atmosphere and a full house at Hampden, " he said.

"Hearts had not won the Cup for around 10 years, Rangers and Celtic were always clearing up, so to win it was fantastic.

"Just going to the ground was amazing with 35,000 Hearts fans behind you. It continued through to the next day when we paraded the trophy in Edinburgh."

Neilson played a full part in the Hearts victory, which was decided on penalties after the match finished 1-1 after extra-time.

A match-saving tackle 20 minutes before the end ensured Gretna were unable to pull off a shock victory, which he modesty claims as "one of those things, I was just in the right place at the right time."

Neilson also made his mark in the shoot-out, firing home in a 4-2 success.

"I wasn't nervous, you try to feel confident and score, which is what the other lads in the Hearts team did," he said. "We had Craig Gordon in goal, who was sold to Sunderland for £9million, and he saved a few.

"There was a lot of pressure at the end because we were favourites to win so, thankfully, we got the right result."

Neilson joined City in the summer on a three-year deal and is the perfect player to ask about the differences between English and Scottish football.

"Down here it is more physical and there is more competition," said the 29-year-old full-back.

"In Scotland you have got maybe four or five top teams. You go from one week playing a really hard game to another when there is not so much pressure because you know you should win.

"Here, you have to be on it every game, every week. If not, as we found out recently, you end up getting beat 5-1 and 3-1."

Neilson was delighted at the appointment of his former Hearts manager – and City boss – Craig Levein as Scotland's new supremo.

"I'm delighted," he said. "And I hope he gets the full remit to do what he wants to do.

"He did that at Dundee United, changed the whole youth set-up, the training programme and what the players had to focus on."

Neilson added: "I know he has strong views on how Scottish football should be run so I hope he gets the full backing to change things. He's a good manager who knows his football and how it should be played."

The appointment will not have done Neilson chance's of adding to his one full international cap any harm.

"I'm doing well here, and there are a lot of players in the Premiership and Championship who could be in the Scotland team," he said.

"It is not something I think about.

"I just want to do well at my club. If I'm doing well, and so are the team, then I'll take it from there."