EASTLEIGH boss Richard Hill admitted hosting Manchester United in the FA Cup would be "massive", but joked that his age has prevented him from dreaming.

The 60 year old's Spitfires side face Newport County in a crucial third-round replay tomorrow evening at the Silverlake.

The prize for the winners will be a lucrative home tie against English giants Manchester United in the next round.

Hill, who juggles his role as manager with being Eastleigh's director of football, acknowledged how big of a moment facing Man United would be for the National League side.

He said: "Personally, the last week has been difficult because we forgot about Saturday's game against Southend United.

"I was disappointed that the whole club forgot about that game, but now we are coming into a magical time for the club.

"For us to win tomorrow would be huge. A pre-season friendly against Manchester United would be massive - but it would also be massive for Newport. Let’s not forget that.

"Forget what it could lead to financially, I don’t know. but just to get Manchester United to the Silverlake would be massive.

"Manchester United coming to the Silverlake could never happen again."

He continued: "When you get to my age you don’t dream much because you don’t sleep much.

"I’ve not thought about coming up against Erik ten Hag. I had a message of good wishes from Steve McClaren, which I appreciated. 

"The only thing that I have been looking back on is if we could have had one more chance in the Newport game. We didn’t so we are back here and we have to try and win another game."

With such a big tie against England's second-most decorated club, Hill conceded it would only be natural for his players to have their eyes on that game. 

"The players aren’t talking about United in front of me," he continued. "It is only natural, I’m sure it’s happening at Newport as well.

"The organisation has to start even though neither of us know who will be playing them. If they have spoken about Man United then let them.

"If they want to dream, let them dream. My message to them today has been that it might not mean a lot to them personally to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup.

"But, in another 15-20 years' time when there is a little snippet in the local paper, it will mean something. You can reflect on it and say, 'I was a part of that.'

Eastleigh will be without George Langston, who was shown a red card in the previous fixture at Rodney Parade.

Langston is a key figure at the back for the Spitfires, having played 29 games in all competitions this season.

Asked how big of a miss the former Watford defender will be, Hill responded: "We will only find out the answer to that question after the game.

"George is an integral part of our squad. What people forget about him, because of his size, is that he is only 21.

"At some points, his naivety is his worst enemy, but he is a big member of our squad."