Elvis Hammond is hopeful of being fit to face former club Fulham and help Leicester claim a Barclays Premiership scalp for the second straight season in the FA Cup third round.

The 26-year-old striker began his career at Craven Cottage as a trainee in 1996, making 13 appearances for the London side before his £225,000 switch to the Foxes in the summer of 2005.

An ankle injury sustained at the turn of the year robbed Hammond of the chance to face his old club in the first encounter at the Walkers Stadium, when Danny Cadamarteri’s last-gasp strike earned City a replay.

But Hammond, who came off the bench to spark a Leicester comeback from 2-0 down against Tottenham in last year’s third round, has his fingers crossed he will be fit enough to be involved on Wednesday night.

He said: “I have trained and I really want to play because it is my old club. I am not as sore anymore so we will have to wait and see.

“It would be great to be involved because you don’t get the chance to play against an old club every week and you don’t get the chance to play against a Premiership team every week either.”

Hammond says last season’s 3-2 victory over Spurs at the Walkers Stadium is the highlight of his time at Leicester.

Jermaine Jenas and Paul Stalteri had put Martin Jol’s side firmly in control before Hammond struck just nine minutes after his introduction to half City’s arrears. Stephen Hughes grabbed the equaliser before Mark de Vries netted an injury-time winner.

Hammond recalled: “To score against Tottenham was a big thing for me. That’s the highlight of my Leicester career – no doubt.

“When the ball came to me just before half-time, I remember I was calm and I made no mistake with the finish. It was a memorable moment for me.

“When you come on as a substitute, all you want to do is do well. You want to try and change the game and I was looking for every chance to do that and it turned out my goal started the change.

“When we scored right at the end to win, that was a very special moment. We were all buzzing after the game and I will remember that for a long time.

“It was a great game to play in and be involved in and fingers crossed we can get another result at Fulham and march on again.”

Captain Paddy McCarthy joins Hammond as an injury doubt for Foxes boss Rob Kelly.

The winners of the tie will host Coca-Cola Championship side Stoke.