Boss Wayne Anderson is hoping former Norwich City manager Nigel Worthington can help inspire Fakenham Town to FA Cup glory on Saturday.

The Ghosts will play their first game in the famous competition for seven years at the weekend when they welcome St Ives Town to Clipbush Park for an extra preliminary round clash (3pm).

Anderson has invited the ex-Canaries and Northern Ireland boss to give his players a pep talk at training tonight and believes his words of wisdom will only serve to have a positive effect.

The Fakenham boss said: 'Nigel's coming in to have a talk to the lads which I hope they will cherish. To do something like this is a big plus and I'm sure they'll take what he says on board. He's been involved in so many high-profile games he has the experience to pass on to the lads – some of them haven't ever played in the FA Cup.

'It's great for me, the lads and the club that he wants to come down and support us and encourage us. St Ives are a good side and they will bring a couple of coach loads of fans but it's not about them, it's about us.

'If we prepare ourselves in the right way, do things right, then you never know what can happen. It's a big boost for the club to be back in the competition and I hope to see plenty of people from Fakenham coming down to support us. A good result would be brilliant for the club, and the town.'

Despite kicking off their Thurlow Nunn First Division campaign on Saturday with a negative result – a 2-1 defeat at Halstead Town – Anderson was pleased with his charges' display.

Fakenham went 2-0 behind before a James Page header reduced the deficit and the Ghosts manager thought his side, who were missing four players, didn't get the points their display deserved.

Anderson said: 'I don't know how we didn't walk off the pitch seven or 8-1 winners. It didn't happen for us in front of goal but the boys were fantastic.'

A last equaliser from Great Yarmouth Town's Fernando Vide prevented Fakenham from getting their first point of the season on Tuesday night.

In a match marred by a serious head injury to the Ghosts' Stephen Harvey – which saw the game stopped for 25 minutes – Fakenham had taken a 58th-minute lead through Sam Garner.

Harvey's wound required stitches and he looks set to miss Saturday's clash, along with Jason Day who tweaked knee ligaments during Tuesday's match.

Striker James Tricks will definitely miss the visit of St Ives, who lifted the United Counties League Cup by beating King's Lynn Town 4-1 in May, after damaging his ankle at Halstead.

He will be sidelined for four to six weeks while Ben Coe is suspended.