DAVID Wheater believes he is the luckiest man at the Reebok.

The defender came within a whisker of being cup-tied and missing the semi-final clash with Stoke on April 17.

Wheater was due to play in Middlesbrough’s FA Cup giantkilling at the hands of Burton Albion.

The 24-year-old even turned up in his tracksuit ready to travel to January’s shock third-round defeat.

But, with Wanderers poised to swoop, Boro pulled him out of the tie – and now he is going to Wembley.

“I am very fortunate I wasn’t actually cup-tied and been in the same position as Daniel Sturridge,” he said.

“Over the years at Middlesbrough, they always played their strongest sides in the cup.

“It was that one lucky time I didn’t play. I certainly didn’t ask not to be picked. I came in with my tracksuit on the Friday ready to play before the manager (Tony Mowbray) pulled me after training.

“The manager told me that the deal had been done so I wasn’t travelling to Burton. He told me to take the weekend off.

But on Monday I was back at Boro because nothing had been finalised.”

Wheater even played for his hometown club once more as Wanderers and Boro haggled over the fee.

But his £2.3million move went through and the former England U21s centre back has been delighted with how things have gone since his switch.

He said: “I couldn’t have asked for any better start to my Bolton career; within a couple of months we’re going to Wembley and we’re still going well in the league.

“In my eyes it wasn’t a gamble coming here. It was just a great opportunity to get back in the Premier League with a great club.

“But we want to still push on from here, finish as high in the league as we can and get to Wembley again and win the trophy.”

Wheater has taken his chance after Zat Knight was ruled out for six weeks when he damaged knee ligaments against Everton on February 13.

The giant defender originally targeted Saturday’s trip to Birmingham for his comeback but the following week’s home clash with West Ham looks more likely.

And Wheater knows he faces a battle to keep his spot when Knight is back fully fit. He said: “I know Zat is itching to get back but having competition for places is good because it should make you play better.

“We all want to play at Wembley so we all need to keep our performances up to stay in the team.

“My wish list for the end of the season would be to stay in the team, to pick up as many wins as possible in the league and to make a Wembley final.”