Manager Mick McCarthy was impressed by Stratford Town striker Ben Stephens during his recent spell training with the Blues and says the 20-year-old will play for the U23s for a second time on Monday - along with trialist keeper Kleton Perntreou - when Gerard Nash’s side take on Aston Villa at Hednesford Town in the Premier League Cup (KO 7pm).
Stephens, who has scored 18 goals this season for his current club, who play in the Evostik South Premier League, featured for the U23s in Monday’s 5-2 loss to Colchester at Florence Park.
"He’s playing on Monday as well,” McCarthy revealed. "He did alright [at Colchester], especially as he played on the Saturday as well. He came in and the pitch wasn’t great at Colchester, I’m sure they won’t mind me saying that.
"It was heavy, he played on Saturday. I think to give him a chance, he’s up in the Midlands anyway, so he can play on Monday and see how well he does.”
McCarthy says trialist keeper Perntreou, who is currently with Welling United, will also be involved against Villa having previously played in the U23s games at West Brom and at home to Millwall: "I think he’s playing again on Monday as well.”