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Cameron Jerome hopes his long lucky Wembley streak can continue when he walks out in the capital this weekend.
Seventeen years after he first played at the stadium for England’s Under-21s against Italy alongside the likes of Gary Cahill, Nigel Reo-Coker, Ashley Young, James Milner and Leighton Baines, the striker hopes to make a fifth unbeaten trip for Bolton.
Jerome has also lifted the League Cup with Birmingham, scored for Norwich City to help them into the Premier League and won the Papa Johns Trophy with Wanderers.
As such, Wembley holds no fears for a player who has more experience than most – but is there a secret to winning on the biggest stage of them all?
“It’s a nice omen to have, the place has been good to me down the years, so long may it continue,” he told The Bolton News.
“Is there a secret? Well, people would pay me a few quid for that!
“I don’t think there is a secret, luck plays a part and just whoever manages the day and occasion better seems to come out on top.
“Most of the time you are going there, it is for a final of some sort. When you talk about finals, you talk about luck and just having that edge on the day.
“You need that composure and can’t be overwhelmed by the experience, just play the game.”
For someone on Saturday afternoon there is a chance to become a hero, just as Jerome did nine years ago for Norwich, scoring the first in a 2-0 win against Middlesbrough to send the Canaries into the Premier League.
“Things like that stick in your memory forever really,” he said. “It is part of history for that particular football club and obviously the magnitude of the game, a play-off final, is something special that will remain forever.
“This Saturday, someone is going to be the hero and hopefully it comes in a Bolton Wanderers shirt.
“That is football. Especially as forwards, you can be having a bad game for 89 minutes but hit the winner in the 90th and the rest is history as they say.
“Someone is going to be a hero and hopefully it comes from us.
“We are confident in the squad, everybody is fully fit and raring to go. We have had a good training week and everyone seems to be relaxed and focus.
“Now it is about getting the job done. We know Oxford are a good side and a tough opponent. They topped the league for a long time this season so we can’t forget that.
“We will give them the respect they deserve and go out there to try and produce our gameplan. Hopefully, we can come out on top.”
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