Issaka & Roberts included for Youth Cup clash

PILGRIMS WELCOME CRYSTAL PALACE FOR THIRD ROUND TIE

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

PLYMOUTH Argyle under-18s lead coach Jamie Lowry believes the first team experience of Freddie Issaka and Caleb Roberts will benefit his side in their FA Youth Cup third round tie against Crystal Palace at Home Park tonight (7pm).

Wales under-19 international Issaka and Roberts are both academy products who have played for the first team at the club’s main stadium. So while it will be a new experience for some of their teammates to play in front of a crowd at the Theatre of Greens they can share their insight with them.

Argyle, a category three academy club, have entered the FA Youth Cup at the third round stage because the senior side are in the Championship. For their part, Palace are a category one academy.

Lowry told Herald Sport: “We have done our homework on them, like we do for all the teams, so we think we know quite a bit about them. We have prepped for what we expect and what we have seen.

“I think the lads have done their homework as well. They take pride in knowing individuals and who they might come up against. As staff we take pride in doing our homework and watching quite a few games, and strengths that they have but also our strengths how we can hurt them so I feel like we are prepared.”

Argyle are currently top of the EFL Youth Alliance South West Division with 22 points from nine games, including seven wins, but the FA Youth Cup always carries extra importance for academy players.