Spurs under 18’s versus Reading: (match preview)

Our under 18’s will return to league action on Saturday for the first time in over a month, when they take on a struggling Reading side at their Hogwood Park training ground. Matt Wells’ side will be looking forward to continuing their title charge as the title race between both them and Arsenal intensifies. The ‘ Gunners ‘ leapfrogged Spurs in the league table on Tuesday after they defeated Leicester City 5-0. However, our bitter rivals have played one game more than us in the Under 18 Premier League South. This will be our first competitive game of football since we were knocked out of the Premier League Cup by Derby County back in January. Memories of both that game and our FA Youth cup defeat to Arsenal will surely motivate Spurs ahead of tomorrow’s important game. Still unbeaten in the league this season, Spurs will be facing a side who have really struggled in domestic competition since the season started back in August. David Dodds side have lost their last ten league matches and they currently find themselves languishing in tenth place in the league table, only three points ahead of bottom of the table Norwich City. Dodds side lost all three of their Premier League Cup games and they were knocked out of the FA Youth Cup in the fourth round by Aston Villa. The ‘ Royals ‘ current under 18 side might not be as good as any of their recent sides however, they did manage to hold us to a 1-1 draw in the reverse league fixture at Hotspur Way, back in September despite us completely dominating the match. Despite their poor form Reading do have some talented young players on their books who we will need to pay close attention to tomorrow. Centre forward Thierry Nevers is David Dodds sides main danger man however, midfielders Connor Lawless and Kian Leavy are two other players worth paying attention to. Furthermore, former Spurs schoolboy Marcel Elva-Fontaine (now in his second year of scholarship) has been a key player for Reading’s under 18 side this season, Elva-Fontaine is a fullback.

Matt Wells’ side will still be without a number of players for Saturday’s match due to injury and Irish centre forward Troy Parrott, who missed our under 19’s match against PAOK on Tuesday possibly because he was injured could also miss out. I will be in attendance at Hogwood Park tomorrow morning to report on this important league game. I would like to wish Matt Wells‘ side all the very best of luck for their encounter with Reading.

My predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1) Oluwayemi, Okedina, Walcott, Binks, Lyons-Foster, White, A.Shashoua (c), Bennett, Thorpe, Clarke, Asante.

Subs from: Kurylowicz, Tainio, Statham, Pochettino, Whittaker.

Injured/unavailable: Jeremie Mukendi, Jamie Bowden.

Doubtful: Phoenix Patterson, Rodel Richards, Dilan Markanday, Troy Parrott, Enoch Asante.

Previous meeting: 1-1.

My score prediction: Spurs 4-1.

My one to watch: The ‘ Royals ‘ too scorer this season Thierry Nevers. The first year scholar has scored eight goals for David Dodds side so far this campaign.