Wanted man: How Hull's Omar Elabdellaoui became a £10m target for Manchester United

Tonight, however, the 25-year-old Norwegian international is looking to deny the Red Devils a place at Wembley to underline how quickly things can change in football.

Not that Elabdellaoui, a Manchester City Academy graduate, is focused on anything but helping Hull City become only the second club to overcome a two-goal first leg deficit to reach the League Cup final.

“It would be very big,” said the full-back when asked about what it would mean to beat Jose Mourinho’s men in only his second appearance for the Tigers since joining on loan from Olympiacos. “To reach a final would be massive and a big boost for everyone.

“I saw the first game and I thought the team was unlucky to lose 2-0. Maybe 1-0 would have been a more fair result. We have got to believe and give it our all. To score the first goal would be a good start.”

Elabdellaoui’s first spell in English football began as a 16-year-old at a time when everything was about to change at Manchester City courtesy of the 2008 takeover by Sheikh Mansour.

Suddenly, a mid-level Premier League outfit was transformed with money no object as Robinho became the first of many big name arrivals at the Etihad.

City have since won two league titles and a host of other trophies, while the Champions League will resume next month with Pep Guardiola’s men determined to improve on last season’s semi-final appearance.

Considering the huge changes during his six years at the Etihad, Elabdellaoui’s only senior appearances coming when on loan at Strømsgodset, Feyenoord and Eintracht Braunschweig is perhaps no surprise. That lack of time on the pitch, though, has made the full-back determined to make a big impression now back within these shores.

“I was in England a few years and now I have much more experience,” said Elabdellaoui, whose move to Old Trafford a year ago collapsed due to Olympiacos demanding £10m. “I have played in the Bundesliga, the Champions League, won trophies with Olympiacos and played internationals. I would say I was a boy then but now I am a man.

“A goal for me was always to play in the Premier League. I didn’t get that chance when I was at Manchester City but now I am at Hull. This is the best league in the world and, on Sunday, we played against one of the best teams in the world (Chelsea).

“I have always watched a lot of the Premier League and I know here at Hull we have many good players. If we continue to work hard and continue to believe, we can turn this season around.”

Elabdellaoui’s loan switch to the KCOM Stadium meant not only a return to England but also a reunion with Marco Silva, his manager at Olympiacos last season. The pair won the Greek Superleague together and, asked what makes the Portuguese tick, the Tigers loanee said: “He really gets the group together.

“He knows what he wants and he is very detailed. I thought that he would get the chance to come to the Premier League after working with him last season and he is here now.”

Considering Elabdellaoui’s history at the Etihad, would victory tonight taste even sweeter because of the opposition? “It was always the team you had to beat, of course, (in the Academy),” he said. “ But I have respect for all the teams. Our only goal is to reach the final.”