Ashley Hunter admits playing four-time League Cup winners Nottingham Forest at the City Ground will be a "dream come true."
The Cod Army were given a plum draw to face Martin O’Neill’s Forest in the first round of this season’s Carabao Cup, in what will be just their second ever competitive meeting.
And for the winger, who can also operate up front, the game in early August will have a little added spice.
Hunter is from Derby and was released by the Rams at the age of 14, before having spells at Aston Villa, Barnsley and Burton Albion before joining Fleetwood from Ilkeston in 2014.
Now 23, the ex-Ram admitted on Twitter that playing at the City Ground for Joey Barton’s men would be a "dream come true" ahead of the Trentside encounter.
Boss Barton previously spoke of his admiration for highly-rated Hunter after a 2-1 defeat at Blackpool late in the League One campaign, and what a key man he could prove to be come August and beyond.
“He is a great player,” said Barton.
“We know the qualities he has got and we need to make sure we do the right recruitment in the summer so that we can showcase his talents next season.”
The Reds’ only previous meeting with Town came in 2012, when a Forest side managed by Sean O’Driscoll were 1-0 winners at Highbury in the League Cup, courtesy of a Dexter Blackstock goal early in the second half.
