CRAIG NOONE was in the away end at White Hart Lane on Sunday but the lifelong Kopite is out to wreck Liverpool’s Carling Cup dream tonight.

The 23-year-old winger will line up for Brighton against the Reds and he’s relishing the prospect of locking horns with Steven Gerrard.

Just over three years ago Noone was playing non-league football and working as a roofer on the Liverpool skipper’s house.

“Steven was getting a conversion done on the back of his house – a games room and gym – and I was working on it,” Noone said.

“I was at Southport in pre-season at the time. He was quite private, understandably, but I’d be there from 8am in the morning and would see him go off to training.

“Now I’m playing against him. Working there, I’d never have dreamed of it. Now it’s happening it’s a bit surreal.”

Noone was on Liverpool’s books as a youngster but got released at the age of 11. He was also turned away by Wrexham before making a name for himself at Skelmersdale, Burscough and then briefly Southport.

He turned professional with Plymouth in 2008 and moved on to Brighton a year ago, helping Gus Poyet’s men clinch the League One title.

“Games like this show how far I’ve come,” he added.

“I feel I’m a better player under Gus and he’s brought me on such a lot. Last season’s promotion was great and we’ve managed to continue that form in the Championship.”

Noone was joined in the away end at Tottenham on Sunday by three other Liverpool supporting Brighton players – ex-Reds trainee Alan Navarro, Gary Dicker and Tommy Elphick.

“What I am sure of is that I am getting my hands on Steven Gerrard’s shirt at the end. Having done his roof, I deserve that don’t I?”