Big-match stage for young guns

HOT-SHOT: Tom Eaves (left) has scored 11 goals for Athletic’s youth team this season. PICTURE by ANDREW SCHOFIELD

ATHLETIC’S youngsters will live the dream tonight when they play Newcastle United at St James’ Park in the FA Youth Cup.

The eagerly-awaited tie is a far cry from the two previous rounds when they defeated minnows Fleetwood Town at the Highbury Stadium and Rotherham United.

Like the FA Cup, it is at this stage when the Premier League giants enter the competition.

Athletic landed a plum draw in Newcastle, who lead the FA Premier Academy Under-18s League.

“We were excited when we heard the news, especially when we found out they play their youth-team games at St James’ Park,” explained Tony Philliskirk, Athletic’s head of youth.

“Many other Premier League clubs use non-league grounds for such matches.”

Philliskirk says it is a great opportunity for his team of scholars to play against one of the country’s top academy sides.

He said: “I am under no illusions that it will be a difficult game, but I am looking forward to seeing how my players perform on the big stage.

“Newcastle have invested heavily in their youth set up and it will be a great opportunity for our players to pit their wits against so called better players.”

Philliskirk saw several of Newcastle’s young guns appear for England under-17s in the summer alongside his son and Chelsea starlet, Daniel.

He was particularly impressed with striker Ryan Donaldson, who has been a non-playing substitute in Newcastle’s first team.

By contrast, many in the Athletic side will still be eligible for next season’s FA Youth Cup.

Sixteen-year-old striker Tom Eaves and fellow frontman Ryan Brooke, with 11 and 14 goals respectively, are just two players who have made their mark this season.

The pair pose plenty of problems going forward, while left-winger Phillip McGrath, brought over from Ireland in the summer, has also done well in recent weeks after recovering from a succession of injuries.

Athletic will have to shuffle their back line after Aaron Chalmers had his contract cancelled for disciplinary reasons.