Town’s U18s are travelling to the FA’s new national football centre at St George’s Park today, where they will stay and train ahead of Wednesday’s FA Youth Cup fourth round tie against Derby County at Pride Park (KO 7pm). If they beat the Rams, a home tie against Manchester City awaits in the fifth round.
Russell Osman’s boys beat Bristol City 1-0 at Ashton Gate in the third round with striker Tom Winter (pictured) scoring the game’s only goal.
Midfielder Byron Lawrence, who made his senior debut for the Blues on the final day of last season at Doncaster, told the club site that the fifth round draw has provided an extra spur: "It’s a great incentive for us, having City in the next round but we know it’s going to be tough against Derby.
"They’ve got some really good players in their squad. Obviously Mason Bennett and Will Hughes have hit the headlines for them this season by playing in the first team and they are both good players. We’re confident though and there’s no reason why we can’t beat them.
"I love the Youth Cup. Playing under the floodlights is quality and it will be great to have the chance to play at Portman Road if we can get past Derby.”
The Rams have confirmed that 18-year-old midfielder Hughes, a regular in their first team who is interesting Manchester City, will not be involved in tomorrow’s fixture.
However, 16-year-old striker Bennett will be in the side. Bennett recently became Derby’s youngest first-team goalscorer, when he added the final goal in a 5-0 FA Cup victory over Tranmere Rovers.
Former Blues chairman David Sheepshanks is the man in charge at St George’s Park, while ex-Town groundsman Alan Ferguson takes care of the many pitches at the facility which opened in October.
Meanwhile, Osman’s squad were joined by ex-Blue Kieron Dyer for a training session last week when the former England man paid a visit to Playford Road.
Dyer, whose son is in the Blues academy, is a free agent having been released by QPR earlier this month, but sources close to Town have played down the chances of the 34-year-old returning to Portman Road.
We understand there are a number of interested clubs both at home and abroad, with MLS sides having previously expressed an interest in the Ipswich-born midfielder.
There will be live updates on the game on the TWTD Message Board.
U18s: Crowe, Marsden, October, Robinson, Thompson, Hammond, Sowunmi, Clarke, Willbye, Leddy, Lawrence, Berkane, Timlin, Marriott, Winter, Galvin, Ramadan.