STEPHEN Warnock is desperate to lift the FA Cup with Blackburn Rovers this season because he didn't feel part of Liverpool's epic victory over West Ham in last year's final.

The 25-year-old defender did receive a winners medal at the Millennium Stadium last May, despite being axed from the Liverpool side that beat the Hammers following a dramatic penalty shootout.

But, instead of that medal taking pride of place on Warnock's mantelpiece, the player almost refused to accept it because he felt he hadn't earned the right to call himself an FA Cup winner.

Now the former Anfield ace, who sealed a £1.5 million move to Ewood earlier this week, wants to become a more worthy recipient with Blackburn, and he and his new team-mates were looking to take another huge step on the road to Wembley today by beating Luton in their fourth round tie at Kenilworth Road.

Warnock said: "If we can get past Luton today, then apparently there is a 50-50 chance we will get a lower league team in the next round.

"That would narrow down our chances of getting to the Final.

"Obviously, I would love to go to the first Cup Final at the new Wembley with Blackburn.

"I already have a winners medal from last season, but I don't feel as though I earned it.

"Although I played in the rounds before the Final, I wasn't even in the squad in Cardiff, so I feel like I cheated the medal really.

"When it was given to me, I didn't really want it because I didn't feel as though I had done anything to deserve it, so it is now locked in a safe somewhere.

"It's ironic really because I should have been given a medal when Liverpool won the Champions League in Istanbul in 2004, but I never got one.

"Some went missing and although the club said we would get one eventually, I never did.

"A few of the lads ended up with the losers medals that AC Milan didn't want, but I didn't even get one of those either!

"So it would be nice if I could get a winners medal in the Cup, and actually feel as though I have earned it."

Ironically. Liverpool's journey to the final began at Luton last season, where the Reds fought back from 3-1 down to win 5-3 thanks to an inspired performance from Xabi Alonso.

Warnock also played his part in that victory, too, after coming on as a second half substitute, and he was expecting the Hatters to make life just as difficult for Blackburn today.

He added: "Luton caught us by surprise last season by starting so well and it was a true FA Cup tie.

"Some of the foreign lads hadn't really experienced it before, but that game opened their eyes to the competition.

"The crowd at Luton will really get behind their team and you can hear people shouting into your ears.

"It's a bit of a culture shock because the dressing rooms are tight and it's a cold place, but you have to experience these places and the lads are looking forward to it.

"I'm just delighted to be involved because it looked like I was out of the Cup after Liverpool lost to Arsenal in the last round.

"I've had a few texts from my mates saying I was out of the Cup one week and back in it the next, but I'm not complaining about that!"