Boro Under-21s will be looking to return to the top of the table tonight as they host arch-rivals Newcastle in a crunch Tees-Tyne derby.
The young guns go into the game unbeaten in their last seven matches in both the Barclays Under-21 Premier League Second Division and Final Third Development League Cup.
But it won’t be easy for Paul Jenkins’ side, who come up against a Geordie outfit also in good form themselves and sitting one place above Boro in the league table.
With tonight’s derby clash to be followed by a trip to league leaders Arsenal on Friday, Jenkins is well aware that this week could define Boro Under-21s season.
Graham Bell/MFC
Paul Jenkins
“This league is about mental development as well as developing their football skills," Jenkins told the club’s official website.
“In our last league game we were 3-1 down away to Reading and down to 10 men for the last 10 minutes because of injury. But the players dug in and scored twice late in the game and that showed character. We didn’t play well that day, but we took something from the game and you will get days like that.
“I was pleased with the resilience they showed and their desire to get something from the game, but not particularly with the way they played. These next two games against Newcastle and Arsenal will, I think, shape our season and tell us a lot about where we are.
“We’re unbeaten since we lost the first game of the season (against Derby) and it would be nice to think that would still be the case after these next two games.
“The players know they have to take their opportunities when they present themselves. All of them have done that, and Graeme Lee and myself are delighted.”
Boro will be without Kieran Weledji (tendonitis) and Thomas McAloon (knee) for tonight’s clash at Hartlepool United’s Victoria Park, but after resting a number of his first-team stars in last Wednesday’s cup win at Gateshead, the Teessiders should be fresh.
Connor Ripley and Luke Coddington will battle it out for the number one jersey, while Jenkins must decide whether Dael Fry’s recent goalscoring heroics are enough to earn him a start in front of regular centre-backs Jonny Burn and David Atkinson.
Bradley Halliday should start at right-back with Andre Bennett occupying the other defensive flank, while Lewis Maloney and Bryn Morris should both return in central midfield.
Elsewhere Jordan Jones and Callum Cooke will both hope their goalscoring performance in Gateshead is enough to secure a starting berth, while Emmanuel Ledesma was not included in Boro’s matchday squad against Watford on Saturday so could play once more.
In attack the Under-21s have lost Luke Williams, who joined Scunthorpe United last week, so Bradley Fewster should start in attack.
Bryn Morris and Bradley Fewster are both set to start
Meanwhile for Newcastle Gael Bigirimana and Haris Vuckic are both likely to start at Victoria Park, along with young striker Adam Campbell and returning Oliver Kemen, who is set to make his first start of the season following an injury lay-off.
“(Kemen) was captain of France under-19s for three games recently and did well”, Newcastle Under-21s coach Peter Beardsley told nufc.co.uk.
“Against Brighton he only played 12 minutes because we decided that after three games for his country it would be better not to take a risk. But against Middlesbrough, he’ll be heavily involved.
“He’s a good kid, a powerful kid, and we’ve got high hopes for him.”
Kick-off tonight is 7pm. Admission is free to Boro Season Card holders and £3 to everyone else.
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