Picturing Cardiff City playing in the FA Cup Final is enough to stretch the most vivid of imaginations. That Robbie Fowler, the former England and Liverpool striker, might feature for the Welsh club, albeit in a cameo role from the substitutes' bench, propels the image into the realms of fantasy.

Perhaps, against Portsmouth at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, he might even score a late winning goal. Fairytales unfold in mysterious ways, especially in this season of Cup upset upon upset. No, surely not again? Retire to a darkened room, pinch yourself and get a grip.

Fowler, 33, has been doing plenty of pinching. Now in the twilight of a distinguished career, having left Liverpool last summer, he believed that his trophy-winning days, the big occasions, had passed. A hip injury that required surgery and has forced him to miss much of the campaign, including the Cup run, appeared only to confirm his feelings.

How wrong he was. “I thought that my days of playing in major finals were gone,” he said. “When you leave the Premier League and come to a Championship side, an FA Cup winner's medal is far from your mind.

“You think it will never happen again and people on the outside think, ‘He's never going to win anything again.' Nobody's given us any hope from the start, but we're in the final on merit. We've played well in every round and deserve to be there.”

The Cup has always held a peculiar fascination for Fowler. Growing up as a young scally in Toxteth, he would sit glued to the television screen when the big day arrived. “I used to like watching the whole build-up,” he recalled. “It used to come on at 11.30am, maybe earlier, and I just watched it all.

“The Cup was the first thing I wanted to win. I wanted to be involved in the day. Having played in finals, I can say that the week before goes so slowly but the day and the game is over so quickly. If I can give the Cardiff lads one piece of advice, it is just enjoy it. It might never happen again.”

For Fowler, it has happened twice. In 1996, Liverpool lost 1-0 to Manchester United; in 2001, they defeated Arsenal 2-1. Before the former, Fowler and his team-mates, including David James, the Portsmouth goalkeeper, attracted widespread ridicule for wearing matching white suits.

“I've still got mine,” Fowler said, chuckling. “People remind me about it the whole time. It's one of those things, isn't it? If we had won the game, no one would have mentioned it. But we lost and it has become infamous.

“It was David's fault we wore the suits, it was his idea. He's bigger than everyone so nobody questioned him. I was only a young player at the time and I didn't get much of a say. I certainly haven't picked the Cardiff suits.”

Despite fashion differences, Fowler and James remain close friends. Since the semi-finals, though, they have kept their distance. “Before the final was known, I spoke to him all the time,” Fowler said. “But not now. I don't really want to in case he thinks I'm fishing. I'll wait until after the game to get in touch with him.”

Fowler appears relaxed. There is none of the Scouse edge, none of the don't-give-a-damn “Spice Boy” front that he, James and the Anfield gang exuded. Yet, as he recalled Cardiff's Christmas fancy-dress party, there still lurks an impish humour. “I was on rollerboots,” he said. “I was one of those Seventies roller boys with the tight shorts. No, not Lycra, just tight. But the boots came off after a minute. And, no, it wasn't because of them I got injured. Honest.”

Honesty will play a role on Saturday. Although Fowler will not start, Dave Jones, the Cardiff manager, has left it up to him to decide whether he is fit to take his place on the bench. There is a contract option for next season to discuss, too.

“You don't want to do yourself an injustice,” Fowler said. “I've done everything that has been asked of me without any problems and I'm feeling OK. It would be great to play, but if I don't think I'm ready and the manager asks me, I will say ‘no'. All I want is for Cardiff to win the Cup.”