Town's U18s continue their defence of the FA Youth Cup tonight when they take on Liverpool at Anfield (KO 7pm). A fifth round trip to Burnley prior to Saturday, 4th February awaits the victors of the tie.

Bryan Klug's side will be without striker Billy Clarke, scorer of the winning goal in the third round 1-0 win at Leeds, who is still not fit after injuring his elbow in the reserves last month.

Owen Garvan and Danny Haynes both played at Elland Road but neither are considered for tonight's match. Garvan was already a part of the first team squad at the time of the Leeds tie but played the game to help him in his return to full fitness after injury, while Haynes has subsequently joined him as a regular in the senior squad.

The most familiar name in the Town squad is Darryl Knights who is back from the ankle injury he sustained at the end of last year. The England U17 international, who played for the first team at Sunderland last year, came on as a 64th minute substitute as the reserves lost to Fulham on Monday and is again likely to feature from the bench.

Midfielder Edward Upson, scorer of the winning goal in the second leg of last year's final with Southampton, is likely to be a key man in midfield despite still being a schoolboy. Upson, of whom Town have high hopes, won his first England U17 cap just before Christmas.

Other names familiar from last year's Youth Cup win are Northern Irish defender Chris Casement, full-back Stuart Ainsley, midfield linchpin Liam Trotter, striker Charlie Sheringham and full-back Sammy Moore.

In goal is Icelandic keeper Óskar Pétursson, while Russell Short is a defender who joined the Blues afer leaving Cambridge's youth set-up in the summer.

Ipswich-based striker Tony Boto will vie for a place up front with Sheringham, while Ollie Fenn, a former Kesgrave High School pupil, Scot Ian Nimmo and Iceland U17 international Björn Orri Hermannson are midfielders.

Full-back Kurt Robinson won U17 caps at the beginning of the season, while Luke Webster featured in the reserves' backline on Monday. Andrew Plummer is the sub keeper

Earlier in the season, the Town U18s defeated Liverpool 3-2 in an FA Premier Academy League game at their Kirkby Academy, with Liam Craig, ineligible for the Youth Cup this season and now with Falkirk in the SPL, scoring twice and Danny Haynes once.

The Kop will be the only stand open at Anfield this evening with turnstiles open from 18.15pm.Entry is £4 for adults and £2 for children.

U18s: Pétursson, Casement, Trotter, Ainsley, Moore, Sheringham, Short, Boto, Fenn, Leabon, Nimmo, Hermannsson, Upson, Robinson, Plummer, Webster, Knights.

Photo: Action Images

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