Tony Carr's youngsters return to inter-group action this weekend when the Under-18s welcome FA Premier Academy League Group B team Reading to Little Heath.
Like Group A side West Ham United, the Royals stand fifth in their division and are enjoying a solid season. The Hammers returned to form last weekend with a 3-0 home win against high-fliers Crystal Palace, with Dominic Vose scoring two to make it four goals in four starts at this level.
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A home win would renew Tony Carr's hopes of challenging for the Group A runners-up spot, with Arsenal running away with things at the top of the table. However, there is a tough test to follow next week with a trip to the clear Group B leaders Leicester City - one of the country's form teams.
Carr is continuing to blood youngsters like Vose, midfielder Blair Turgott (pictured) and defender Jake Young, who has just been offered a scholarship and made his U18 debut earlier this month. The U16s squad has continued to impress this season and the Academy Director will take an even closer look at many of them in the weeks to come.
He said: "We do feel we have got a talented squad at U16 level. The excitement for me is that there is real talent in that squad and it would be wonderful if we had three or four lads knocking on the door of the first-team squad in three years' time."