Our men's under-21s will target revenge when the Premier League International Cup begins against Valencia at the Amex Elite Football Performance Centre on Wednesday (7.30pm).
We went out to the Spanish side in last season’s competition and coach Shannon Ruth would love to make a winning start to this season’s tournament.
“We are looking forward to that fixture, it is a fantastic competition for our players’ development,” said Ruth.
“It offers different demands and we are expecting them to be tough opposition. Not just good players, but a good style and we will certainly have to be at our best to get anything.”
Ruth was also pleased for Andrew Moran, who began the season in the under-21s before joining Blackburn Rovers on loan. The Irishman starred for Rovers against Cardiff City in the Carabao Cup at Ewood Park last week, scoring twice and providing two assists as well as being brought down for a penalty that Rovers failed to convert.
“We are all buzzing and delighted for Andy, the level that he has gone to and the level he is at, to have his first loan to be in the Championship,” Ruth added.
“It shows the level of loan that our academy players are attracting. For Andy, two goals and two assists are things that we have seen from him time and time again. We are delighted that he can do it at that level too.
“It is all credit to the loan department and Gordon Greer, our loan manager, that we can give our players this opportunity and support them while they are on loan. We believe it is a particularly strong area of ours.”