Starlets look to impress Sheridan

Tony Philliskirk

THE NEXT generation of budding Athletic stars get their chance to impress manager John Sheridan tonight — possibly landing themselves professional deals in the process.

Tony Philliskirk’s under-18s are in action at SportsDirect.com Park (7pm kick-off) tonight in the final of the Lancashire FA Youth Cup against Blackpool.

After winning the same competition two years ago against identical opponents, following that up with a 4-0 defeat of MK Dons in last season’s FA Youth Alliance Cup final, Athletic’s young guns of the past have proven themselves knockout kings.

Current first-team stars Joel Coleman, George Edmundson and Jack Tuohy were among those to star in those big games.

Now, with first-team deals to be decided upon soon, Athletic’s academy prospects will hope to put on a positive show against the Seasiders.

“It is an important game, not least because decisions are imminent on who will be offered contracts for next season and it is a chance to play in front of John Sheridan and (assistant manager) Peter Shirtliff,” said Philliskirk (pictured, inset).

“It is the third season in a row we have played in a cup final and we have won two of them so far.

“We have been inconsistent this season and that is down to the number of players we have had to use as a result of injuries.

“But on our day, we are more than a match for most teams, as we showed in our FA Youth Cup run.”

A very young Athletic side, without a host of players rested for tonight’s game, lost 4-0 at Mansfield in the league at the weekend.