Albion under-21 head coach Shannon Ruth has said that it’s hugely important for his team to have the chance to play at the Amex.
The under-21s take on Celtic in the Premier League International Cup at the Amex Stadium on Friday night, with tickets for the game available here.
Ruth believes that players getting to sample the Amex before possibly playing there with the first team can only help them when they make the step up.
“If the first time they’re playing at the Amex is their first team debut, then it’s quite a daunting thing, whereas if we can give them little experiences between now and that debut, then we’re doing a good job to prepare them,” he said.
“The players will be looking forward to the game and there will be a certain will and desire to be in the team, and there will be a real disappointment for those who aren’t because it’s a great opportunity to play at the Amex, in front of the supporters too.”
Those supporters can make a real difference to the under-21s’ experience, according to Ruth.
“I think the supporters can play a big role, it’s something that the players don’t get to experience very often and it’s imperative for their development their understanding of the influence of a crowd when they’re playing.
“So to have the opportunity to play in front of supporters and understand what that feels like is really important.
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“The group have started the season well and I am looking forward to seeing how they deal with the occasion because as staff it tells us more about the players.”
So far Albion have beaten Valencia in the competition and Ruth admits that the games have a different vibe about them.
“There’s certainly a European feel to the games, they are different. That’s down to the tough opponents you play and how they approach the game tactically. It can give us a different type of challenge.
“Because it’s different, the players probably have it in their mind that it is a ‘bigger’ game. We try to treat every game the same, that’s especially important for young professionals but these games are important for them.”