Andy Fensome has full belief that Preston North End U18s can cause an upset on Thursday evening if they play to their capabilities.
In the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup, the young Lilywhites are hosting a Southampton side who play some of the country’s best teams in the Premier League week in, week out.
North End won’t go into the game overwhelmed by the challenge in front of them, though, with coach ‘Fenners’ confident in his team’s ability and fight.
He said: “We know Southampton are a good side.
“We know they’re doing well at this moment in time and they’ve got some really, really good players, but at the same time we’ve got some really, really good players.
“All we can hope for is that our players go out and showcase what they’re about.
“It’s about them producing what they can produce, it’s about them playing to their capabilities, and if they do that there’s every chance.”
PNE have got to this stage of the competition by coming out on top of some really entertaining cup ties.
They began their campaign here at Deepdale, with an emphatic 6-1 victory over Rotherham United, before securing come-from-behind wins on the road against Gillingham and Luton Town.
Fenners added: “The players have got us to where they are now and that’s really important that it’s through their achievements that we are where we are.
“We obviously give them some plans and put them in place for them, but they’ve got to achieve them on the pitch.
“I thought especially in the last round at Luton they worked extremely hard to get to where we’ve got now.
“I’ve said this in the previous rounds, but this is a great game for them to showcase what they’re capable of doing.”
Fenners is expecting to be able to choose from a fully-fit squad, with all the lads of course desperate to be a part of the action.
North End know what awaits them if they are to be victorious – a trip to face West Ham United.
“It’s motivation for us to use, but we don’t look beyond this game,” said Fenners.
“Thursday is a massive game for everyone involved and we just want to go out there and produce and do really well for each other.”
