Good luck tonight lads, here's to comebacks as they try to overturn a 2-1 deficit tonight.
Its on Sky for those who didnt know.
Danish goalkeeper Martin Hansen has been ruled out of tonight's Youth Cup final second leg at Old Trafford with a broken finger.
Hansen sustained the injury in the warm-up before last week's first leg against Manchester United - but remarkably played through the pain.
However, the Academy coaching staff believe it would be too much of a risk for him to start this evening.
The decision was made easier by the availability of last year's Youth Cup winning keeper David Roberts.
The under-18s go into the second leg 2-1 down, though a single goal victory would be enough to force extra-time because the away goals rules does not apply.
Coach John Owens is confident his young side have plenty of goals in them.
"We can't be too cavalier but we know we have plenty of players who can score. We've done well on this score during the Youth Cup – we got seven overall against Newcastle in the semis," he said.
"In midfield we've got Ray Putterill, Jimmy Ryan and Charlie Barnett who all like to have a go, plus Ryan Flynn and Craig Lindfield who get goals up front.
"We've thought from the very start that the game wouldn't be decided during the Anfield leg, and we're confident this is still the case."
Owens believes a crucial factor in the Reds' chances is how his boys cope with the Old Trafford atmosphere.
"I think they can handle it, but this is one of the imponderables when you're talking about footballers this age," he said.
"Hopefully we'll have some of our noisy supporters there too. But looking at the bigger picture, yes we want to do well in the Youth Cup, but our main aim is to produce players for the first-team. If these boys are going to make that step then they've got to be able to perform on this stage week in, week out."
Swedish midfielder Astrit Ajdarevic is expected to start tonight after missing the first leg through suspension. Lee Woodward will make way.
Meanwhile, United will again be without captain Craig Cathcart, who missed the first leg after he was called up to the senior squad. His absence this time is down to a season-ending knee injury sustained in training last week.
« Last Edit: Apr 26, 2007 01:58:34 pm by Glenbuck »
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