On Saturday morning (the game starts at 11:00am) the Spurs Under 18 side will play their first Under 18 Premier League Cup group-stage fixture of this season, as they look to defend the trophy that they won last season. Stuart Lewis’ side face Blackburn Rovers’ Under 18 side at the Blackburn Rovers Football Academy, at Brockhall Village, and it is the first time that these two sides have met at this level in a competitive match for quite a long time. Blackburn Rovers’ Under 18 side have drawn one, won one and lost one, from their opening three league games of the season. Their most recent Under 18 Premier League South fixture ended in them losing 6-0 to Manchester City, last weekend. Spurs’ Under 18 side won 4-2 away to Arsenal in the Premier League South last weekend, and they’ll be hoping to record a similar result on Saturday in Lancashire. Playing against Blackburn Rovers at Academy level is always difficult, as the Spurs Under 21 side will know from matches in recent seasons. It will be interesting to see whether there will be many changes from the team that played Arsenal last Saturday. Also in Spurs’ group this season are Chelsea and Barnsley, with only the top team being guaranteed of progressing to the next stage of the competition. That’s why it’s so important to win your first group game in this competition.

Unfortunately I won’t be able to make this game on Saturday. However, I will be at the Spurs Under 21’s versus Blackburn Rovers Premier League 2 fixture in Stevenage, on the same day.

My predicted lineup: (4-3-3) Krasniqi, Black, Arganese-McDermott, Chaplin, Logan, Morgan, Olusesi, Hall (c), Akhamrich, Lehane, Moore.

Substitutes from: Bloedorn, Rowswell, King, Willhoft-King, Irow. 

Injured/unavailable: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Previous meeting: N/A.

My score prediction: Spurs 3-1.

My one to watch: Zack Stritch (17). The attacking midfielder and second year scholar has started the new season really well, scoring three league goals and providing one assist for the Blackburn Rovers Under 18 side, in the Premier League North.