The last time that Spurs and Aston Villa met at this level, was in the final of the Under 18 Premier League Cup, at the end of last season. Spurs won that game 3-1 at Villa Park, and it was a great occasion for the Spurs Academy. On Saturday (the game starts at 12:00pm) Spurs’ Under 18 side will play their first Under 18 Premier League South game of the 2023/24 season, when they face Aston Villa at their Bodymoor Heath training ground. Spurs won all three of their competitive meetings with Aston Villa at this level last season, and Spurs have done well in recent meetings with Aston Villa at this level. This will however, be a good test for Spurs on the opening day of the Premier League South season. Stuart Lewis’ Spurs side recently faced Irish side Cork City’s Under 19 side in a pre-season friendly match in Ireland, and although Spurs lost that game 1-0, it was a good pre-season test for the squad. The Spurs Under 21 side also start their season on Saturday, with an away fixture against Manchester City. So it will be interesting to see whether any of the players from Stuart Lewis’ squad travel to Manchester with the Under 21 squad, rather than play against Aston Villa. I will be attending the Aston Villa game on Saturday, and I’d like to wish the Spurs side all the very best of luck for the game, and the season ahead.

My predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1) Krasniqi, Black, Rowswell, Chaplin, King, Morgan, Hall, Irow, Akhamrich, Moore, Ajayi (c).

Substitutes from: Bloedorn, Logan, Arganese-McDermott, Olusesi, James.

Injured/unavailable: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Previous meeting: Spurs 3-1.

My score prediction: Spurs 3-1.

My one to watch: Rory Wilson (17). The Scotland youth international and now second year scholar impressed with Aston Villa at academy level last season, and he scored a good amount of goals for both their Under 18 side, as well as for their Under 21 side.