Striker Nathan Ellington and Cameroonian trialist Yann Songo’o are in the Town squad facing Swansea City in the club’s inaugural match in the U21s Professional Development League Two — South. The Blues travelled to Wales yesterday and stayed overnight ahead of this morning’s game at the Swans’ training ground at Stebonheath (KO 11am).
Clubs are entitled to name three overage players in U21 sides but Ellington is the only one named in the squad which made the trip.
Songo’o, 20, was most recently with French club Pobla de Mafumet, having previously played for Sabadell and Real Zaragoza’s B and youth sides, during which time he was linked with Real Madrid and Barcelona. As a youngster he was also with another Spanish club, Deportivo La Coruña, and Metz in France.
Born in the Cameroonian capital Yaoundé, the 6ft 1in tall central defender has won three U20 caps for the country of his birth and has also played for the French U16s.
His father is ex-Cameroon international keeper Jacques Songo'o and his brother Franck plays in the MLS with the Portland Timbers.
Most of the rest of the side are academy youngsters who also played in Saturday’s 4-1 U18s victory over the Swans, including schoolboy keeper Jacob Marsden.
U21s: Ellington, Songo’o, Whight, Burke, October, Thorsteinsson, Lawrence, Hammond, Marriott, Timlin, Berkane, Willbye, Galvin, Marsden, Winter, Acott.