Barradell Previews 'Exciting' FA Youth Cup Clash
- Leicester City's Under-18s face Sheffield Wednesday Under-18s in the FA Youth Cup on Friday night
- Coach Adam Barradell previews the re-arranged cup clash at LCFC Training Ground
- The young Foxes are unbeaten in their last four league fixtures
- A fourth round tie away to Exeter City awaits the winners
The young Foxes host the Owls at LCFC Training Ground on Friday (7pm kick-off), with a spot in the fourth round and a trip to Exeter City awaiting for the winners.
Leicester have been on a good run of form in Premier League U18 South, winning two and drawing two of their last four games and Barradell believes the recent unbeaten streak will provide some momentum heading into the cup clash.
"The league results and the performances, most importantly, have started to look a lot better," Barradell told LCFC.com. "We're certainly playing more of the game model than we were before Christmas.
"We're looking forward to the game on Friday off the back of our recent performances and the results will give the boys confidence. Obviously, with this being a knockout game, anything can happen, but the boys are going into it high on confidence and with belief in their own ability.
"Training has been really competitive, everyone's really excited. Obviously all of the boys are looking to be in at starting XI and unfortunately not everyone can be in that side or even in the squad, but it's been pleasing to see how hungry they are and how they all want to get into that starting XI."
City are coming up against a side they have not faced in the league programme and, with the tie being played under the lights at LCFC Training Ground in Seagrave, it could give it an extra edge.
Barradell hopes the players can enjoy the occasion, but also get the right result in order to progress into the next round.
"We expect a tough test, as we do with every team we play," he continued. "We'll be meticulous in our preparation and we'll look at their strengths and weaknesses and how we can imprint ourselves onto the game in terms of how we want to play.
"We've done some work on Sheffield Wednesday but we'll be concentrating on our own performance.
"Playing in a world-class facility boosts the boys and the staff. Obviously we travelled a lot before Christmas so having that run of home games has certainly given everyone a pick up. It's been really pleasing to see the boys playing in Seagrave."
Several Under-18s players have made the step up into the Under-23s squad for the first time in recent weeks, including the likes of Chituru Odunze, Oli Ewing and Sammy Braybrooke, with Barradell pleased to see their development as young players.
He added: "Having players move into the Under-23s group, it's great for their development and we've seen the benefits of that when they come back down to play with the Under-18s.
"On the flip side, it's certainly given Under-16s the opportunity to come and play in the Under-18s, which is again great for their individual development.
"That's what we're looking for really, players moving into the Under-23s squad and Under-16s moving into the Under-18s and still looking to compete and put in good performances."
All times GMT.