Big night for youngsters
Latics under-18's take centre stage tonight as they tackle Sheffield United at Boundary Park in the first round of the FA Youth Cup.It will be a tough challenge for Latics' youngsters as the Blades have one of the top Academies and reached the final in 2011 when they lost to Manchester United.
"We have drawn one of the biggest clubs we could at this stage as Sheffield, Coventry and Crewe are the three leading Academy sides in the first round," explained Tony Philliskirk, Latics' Academy Manager.
Philliskirk believes it will be a good test as how Latics' youngsters are progressing.
They have won seven of their opening 10 matches in the Football League Youth Alliance's North West Conference to lie third in the table. They have also beaten Hartlepool United 6-2 in the Youth Alliance Cup.
"We are not going to win the cup and, realistically, clubs like ourselves aim to reach the third round like we did last year when we played Norwich," added Philliskirk.
Latics also have a striker in top form as Jordan Bove has scored 12 goals in 11 matches.
Jack Truelove and Hadyn Foulds are long-term absentees.
John Pritchard and Callum Etches, who missed Saturday's win against Rochdale through injury, also miss out having failed to recover.
Squad: Coleman, Fulwood, Hardman, Ellison, Clarke (capt), Brewster, Walters, Grant, Byrnes, Bove, Tuohy, Kinder, Tyson, Tansinda, Edmundson, Benourad.
Latics also have a striker in top form as Jordan Bove has scored 12 goals in 11 matches.
Jack Truelove and Hadyn Foulds are long-term absentees.
John Pritchard and Callum Etches, who missed Saturday's win against Rochdale through injury, also miss out having failed to recover.
Squad: Coleman, Fulwood, Hardman, Ellison, Clarke (capt), Brewster, Walters, Grant, Byrnes, Bove, Tuohy, Kinder, Tyson, Tansinda, Edmundson, Benourad.
* Admission tonight is £4 for adults and £2 concession.