Since the start of the new year, the U18s have picked up seven points from seven games in the league – a vast improvement compared to the first half of the season where they managed just one win.

Their two wins in January and February came against Leicester and Aston Villa and were both away from home.   

Despite the U18s having a few positive results since the start of the new year, they have also suffered some heavy defeats with West Ham and Fulham both recently putting five past them. However, the U18s managed to gain a positive result in the return fixture with Fulham, drawing 0-0 at the Lotus Training Centre. 

Over the festive period, there is always a transition between the U18s and U21s squads with players progressing up to the U21s squad. This year that list included Waylon Renecke, Caleb Ansen, Elliot Myles, and Errol Mundle-Smith. 
Due to this transition, a ripple effect is created across the academy, with U16s getting opportunities to showcase their talents at U18s level. This is vital as the U16s need the exposure before they head into their scholarship years.

In my view, the U16s players most likely to be rewarded scholarship contracts are Rio Mundle (RB/RM), Jack Ruddy [son of John] (GK), Oli Newman (RW/ST), Sonny Rowland (CDM), Victor Madu (CB) and Vatan Ozcan (LB/RB), but there is still plenty of time for things to change. 

One player I haven?t mentioned in the U16s category is Finn Corke – a player of exceptional quality ...