SHOULD he help Everton to victory at Wembley on Saturday, Dan Gosling would be forgiven for popping his head into the opposing dressing room and offering a quick word of thanks.

As a fledgling professional at Plymouth Argyle, Gosling spent a week training at Chelsea during the days of Jose Mourinho.

The Stamford Bridge side were one of several teams rumoured to have been tracking the midfielder as he started forging a reputation on the South Coast.

In the end, however, it was David Moyes who was prepared to take the gamble on snapping up the then 17-year-old for a fee that could eventually rise to more than £2million.

It has proven a wise move. And although having to wait almost a year for his first-team bow at Middlesbrough on Boxing Day, Gosling will cap a whirlwind six months by taking his place in the squad for the FA Cup final against Chelsea this weekend.

“I actually went down to Chelsea and spent a week training with them when Jose Mourinho was in charge,” recalls Gosling.

“Ian Holloway was Plymouth manager at the time, and he thought it would be a good idea for me and Luke Summerfield, who were the young lads coming through at the time.

It was in the February, I was only 16 or 17, and the gaffer wanted us to go to a big club and see how it all worked.

“We went for a few days and trained with all the top names. They obviously had some great players there and it was a fantastic experience for us. Training with such really good players was brilliant for us.

“When I was leaving Plymouth a few clubs were linked with me, like Tottenham, Chelsea and Reading. But as soon as Everton made an offer I knew this was the place for me.”

Explaining such reasoning, Gosling adds: “This is a great place for kids. You’ve seen them all coming through, from the likes of Leon Osman and Tony Hibbert, who are first team regulars now, to others like Vaughany and Victor.

“It’s harder at the top four clubs, with all their money, because they tend to just go out and buy the top foreign players. Here the gaffer gives you a chance and I’m very grateful for that.

“With the squad size and money here, he has to look at youth and the lads who’ve come through here have done him proud. That was certainly a major factor in coming here because I knew I would get a chance – and I have.”

Gosling had already netted two goals for Everton before he shot to national prominence with his late winner in the FA Cup fourth round replay against Liverpool – undoubtedly helped by the fact ITV, who were screening tie live, somehow managed to miss the goal.