Academy manager Sammy Morgan says second-year scholars Josh Carson (pictured), Josh Meekings and Caolan Lavery will be the backbone of the Town U18 side taking on Peterborough in the FA Youth Cup at Portman Road this evening (KO 7pm). Manager Roy Keane will be at the game running his eye over the next generation of Town stars.
Midfielder Carson, who was on the bench for the Carling Cup tie at Exeter earlier in the season, and striker Lavery won their first Northern Ireland U21 caps last week, while Bury St Edmunds-born defender Meekings netted for the Blues U18s in their 3-2 victory over Charlton at the weekend. Lavery, who recently switched allegiance from Canada, the country of his birth, to Northern Ireland, for whom he qualifies via his parents, netted the other two.
Morgan says the trio will be out to show Keane what they can do: "Our lads have a chance to impress the manager.
"The team that will face Peterborough will be mainly first year boys, but for second years like the two Joshes and Caolan it is a game that could mean a great deal. They will form the backbone of the team and steady the ship if necessary.
"They saw the manager take on eight boys from the scholarship scheme last summer and most have had an opportunity with Luke Hyam, Tom Eastman and Ronan Murray becoming regulars in the first team squad. This will act as a huge incentive to the lads on duty against Peterborough.”
Posh will include released former Town schoolboys Nathan Ralph and Josh Capocci in their side, players Morgan says will be out to impress: "I’m sure they will be looking to show us that we made a mistake. They are both good lads and of course you always hope that youngsters will do well elsewhere and we wish them well in their careers.”
Tonight’s prices are £3 adults and £1 concessions and children with only the Cobbold Stand open.
Striker Connor Wickham is eligible for the U18s but played and scored for the reserves in the behind-closed-doors friendly at Spurs yesterday.
Morgan and coach Gerard Nash are currently running the U18s with Mike Pejic, who was taken on to coach the U18s in the summer, currently suspended, the Blues releasing a statement last week.
Last season the young Blues reached the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup before being knocked out by Fulham, having defeated Arsenal in the previous round. Town have won the competition three times, in 1973, 1975 and 2005.