North End's youngsters face Birmingham City in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup on Wednesday evening.
Coach Jamie Hoyland spoke to PNE.Com to give his thoughts on the tricky tie against the Blues.
"We are all looking forward to the next round, it's a bit of a blow that it isn't getting played at St Andrews and the boys are disappointed with that, but it's a Premier League side, another academy club and a challenge to pit our wits against," said the former Manchester City defender.
"I know United play at Northwich and City play at Hyde but most of the other teams in it play at their home ground. A good friend of mine Damian Matthew, who runs Charlton Athletic's youth department said they had to play Birmingham last year in the third round at Solihull and he wasn't very impressed with the ground. But we'll just get on with it.
"Straight after we beat West Brom, Jim and I went to watch Birmingham the following night against Huddersfield. We've had a DVD of them playing in some matches so we've had a look at that so the lads should not have any detail unturned and should know every detail about them.
"They are a good footballing side, strong at the back and certainly comfortable in midfield on the ball. They never give in, as we saw in the last round when they were 1-0 down with seven minutes left and they went on to win it.
"We went out third round last year, we've got past that now and hopefully we can go a bit further. I don't think we'll win it but we'll endeavour to get as far as we can because it is a nice fillip for the lads."
After a quiet festive period, the lads played their first match in a month against Blackpool. A 3-0 reverse wasn't the ideal preparation, although a number of first team players were rested for tomorrow's match.
Hoyland believes it is an important few months for the second year scholars as they aim to earn to professional contract with the Club. A fine performance against Birmingham may give the staff making the decisions a little food for thought.
He explained: "It's very important that they do get a break because they are young lads and I fully agree with that, but if we gave them two weeks off or ten days then it doesn't matter who you are, you will lose some fitness. With the Reserve and Youth Cup, Youth Alliance matches all coming thick and fast in the new year there's a lot of important decisions to be made on 11 of the lads and they have to come back all guns blazing.
"The new Manager hasn't seen much of them because he has been tied up with the first team and we respect that because that is what keeps the Club going but when they do get chance to show in front of him, they have got to.
"We'll put our opinions forward and the rest of the staff will do too but it's what the Gaffer thinks which will deem it yes or no for them at the end of the season."
