In addition to the first team’s trip to West Ham United, our Under-18s are coincidentally also away to the Hammers on Saturday (kick-off 11am UK).
With domestic action returning after the international break, Joe Staunton’s side head to Little Heath looking to bounce back from a narrow home defeat to a tough Crystal Palace outfit a fortnight ago.
That was our Under-18s’ first defeat of the campaign, although a handful of players have since enjoyed success at international level.
Full-back Oscar Sandiford – a regular for our Under-18s so far this term despite still being an Under-16s player – made his international debut for England Under-17s last week with striker Oliver Boast also in action for the Young Lions.
Oliver Salter, meanwhile, scored twice for Wales Under-17s in the first of two friendly matches in Estonia.
Malachi Hardy, Jun’ai Byfield, Luca Williams-Barnett and Tynan Thompson – the latter making his international debut – also shone for England Under-18s in Spain, although those players have been with our Under-21s so far this season.
Interim Coach Joe will be looking for a good performance against the Hammers, with places potentially up for grabs in our Under-19 UEFA Youth League opener at home to Villarreal on Tuesday.