TOM COWAN is backing Town to come out on top in the clash of his former clubs – at least that’s what he’s telling the Examiner!

“I can’t really lose, but I can’t really win either,” laughed the popular former left-back, who was a member of the last Town side to play at Wembley back in 1995, when Bristol Rovers were beaten 2-1 in the League I play-off final.

“I’ve got a foot in both camps, so to speak, and while I have fantastic memories of my time at Huddersfield, I work among Sheffield United supporters.”

Scotsman Cowan, who cost £150,000 when signed from the Blades by Neil Warnock in 1994 – when Town also went to Wembley in the final of the Autoglass Trophy – and made 165 Town appearances, is now a fire fighter in the steel city.

The 42-year-old sees United regularly from the Bramall Lane press box, giving a blow-by-blow account of their home games to the Press Association agency.

But he’ll be watching tomorrow’s big final from Benidorm, where he will be among a 10-strong stag party.

“There are a mixture of Wednesday and United fans going, and of course the Wednesday supporters will be behind Town,” he added.

“On the QT, I will be too, and while I think the match will be tight and cagey, I believe Town could edge it.

“United have certainly got their strong points, not least a very solid defence as shown by them keeping clean sheets in both semi-final legs against Stevenage.

“Two young lads, full-back Matt Lowton and centre-half Harry Maguire, have really stood out for me this season.

“Lowton has got stronger and stronger while Maguire, having caught the eye in United’s run to last season’s FA Youth Cup final, looks like he’s been around for ages.

“He’s got a maturity beyond his years (the Sheffield-born player is 19), and it’s not a surprise that’s he’s been linked with higher-level clubs.

“Should United lose, they could well find it hard to keep hold of the pair of them, and that adds to the pressure on them to succeed.”

While the Blades are sharp at the back, Cowan – who also played for Clyde, Rangers, Burnley, Cambridge, York, Dundee and Carlisle – believes they could struggle to score.

“They’ve certainly missed Ched Evans,” he said of the Wales international striker whose jailing for rape has been well chronicled.

“They’ve lost a player who had scored 35 times, and that takes some replacing, and on top of that, they have James Beattie suspended.

“They’ll be hoping Richard Cresswell has recovered from his eye problem, because otherwise, they’ll only have Chris Porter as an out-and-out striker.

“Against that background, they did really well to get past Stevenage, who impressed me when they played at Bramall Lane in a league game late in the season.

“United were stubborn over both legs and managed to force the goal that took them through to the final.

“But they’ll have to work hard to keep Town out, because in Jordan Rhodes they have a proven and dangerous scorer and in Lee Novak, a really hard-working player who can both get goals and create them.

“Throw in the experience of Alan Lee, who I played alongside at Burnley, and the potential brilliance of Danny Ward and United will be tested.”

Cowan says he’s delighted that Town supporters have another chance to see their side at Wembley.

“It was great to play there twice for the club, although I have to say the play-off final was better than the Autoglass, because we won,” he said.

“After an even first half (Andy Booth put Town in front with a looping header before Marcus Stewart volleyed Bristol Rovers level) we were under the cosh for quite a time in the second half.

“They seemed to create a lot of chances but struggled to put them away, then Neil threw on Iain Dunn and he came up with a great cross which led to Chris Billy’s winner.

“Seeing that goal go in was fantastic, and being able to celebrate in front of our supporters was an amazing feeling.”