SUNDAY just cannot come round soon enough.

Everyone is hurting after the Wembley choker and it will obviously take a bit of time to get it out of our systems.

But at least we have another big game on the horizon and I can say confidently that Owen Coyle will make sure the focus of every member of the squad and his staff very quickly switches to the Arsenal game.

There is no point dwelling on what happened at Wembley. It was a one-off, completely out of character and out of context and is something the players must put to the back of their minds.

It’s a situation reminiscent of 1994 when we lost to Oldham in the quarter-final of the FA Cup. Okay, it wasn’t the semi-final and it wasn’t at Wembley, but we were on an exciting cup run and we really thought we could go all the way.

I remember being devastated that day, but Bruce Rioch sat us all down and told us to concentrate on the positives, to make sure what had gone before wasn’t wasted and to make sure we didn’t let the defeat stop our momentum.

The following season we won promotion to the Premier League.

I know it’s scant consolation when you’ve missed out on the big prize, but it was an achievement in itself to get to the FA Cup semi-final and it would be wrong to let one game detract from what has been achieved over the last 16 months since Owen came on board.

For two seasons we were fighting a relegation battle, this season we’ve been chasing a place in Europe.

Just look down at the bottom end of the table and check out some of the clubs who are desperately trying to stay in the Premier League – West Ham, Sunderland . . . even Stoke!

We have no such fears and even now with six games still to play, we can look forward to an 11th successive season of Premier League football. What I’m certain of is we could not have a better man to do the job of making sure the players are back on a high by Sunday and preventing a quite remarkable season from petering out.

It’s going to be hard for Owen Coyle. He’ll be hurting as much as anyone because his personal pride has taken a knock, and that hurts me because he’s not just my boss, he’s also a good friend.

But he’s naturally a bright and bubbly character and I can guarantee he will have everyone back on song by the weekend, including the supporters who I’m sure will recognise what’s been achieved here and will give the players a rousing reception at the Reebok.

IT was strange seeing rugby posts up at the Reebok on Saturday afternoon when I popped in to see the Sale Sharks-London Irish game.

It was a novel experience for me, seeing all those big rugby men running around and knocking seven bells out of each other.

Speaking to a lot of the people involved in the 15-a-side code, it was a huge success and one they can’t wait to repeat.

But I have to confess I didn’t enjoy it, for two reasons. My mind was very much on Wembley the day after and, as far as I am concerned, the Reebok is a football ground. It’s our home, and I can’t get my head round rugby being played there.

That said, it a great stadium and you can see why the Sale Sharks people were gushing in praise about its facilities.

I must admit I never thought I would have such an affection for the place because, for me, Burnden Park was special.

I loved the place because it held so many happy memories for me and when I knew the club was leaving and going to a new stadium, I was upset.

But I felt equally at home when I went to the Reebok for the first time – to play in John McGinlay’s testimonial match – and I’ve grown to love the place ever since.

YOU discover who your true friends are when you suffer painful experiences, and the multitude of texts and phone calls I’ve received since Sunday have been a big help.

I’m hurting like everyone else is but I’ve lost count of the number of messages I’ve had from mates telling me to keep my chin up, and they are much appreciated.

I don’t mind admitting that in years gone by I’ve attracted my share of hangers on who haven’t really cared too much about me.

But I’ve dropped them now and, I’m delighted to say, I have people whose concern is genuine – like the girls in Tesco, who have become like sisters to me since I started popping in to see them.

I called in yesterday and when they saw I was down in the dumps they asked me quite sincerely: “Are you okay?”

It was very touching and it made me feel a lot better.

I GOT a close-up view of Amir Khan’s successful defence of his world title on Saturday night when, thanks to Amir’s people, me and David Lee had ringside seats at the MEN Arena.

I was chuffed for the lad that he won the fight and continued to fly the flag for Bolton. Long may it continue.

JACK Wilshere must have felt 10 feet tall when he was named Young Player of the Year at the Professional Footballers Association awards on Sunday night.

It was a welcome bit of good news on a disappointing weekend because, although Jack’s an Arsenal player and he’ll be an opponent at the Reebok this weekend, we all know how much he appreciated the help he got in his time on loan here last season.

I never got an individual award myself but I was twice named in the PFA’s divisional Team of the Year and I know from that experience how it feels to be recognised by your peers.