Cardiff City have two teams in action this evening (Tuesday).
Craig Bellamy’s young Bluebirds are playing MK Dons away in the FA Youth Cup, while Andy Legg and Jarrad Wright’s under-23 players are in action against Crystal Palace at Cardiff City Stadium (both 7pm).
MK Dons have already won twice in the FA Youth Cup, beating Southend United and Barnet.
This evening’s FA Youth Cup tie must be settled on the night with extra time and penalties deciding the issue if needed.
Cardiff go into the clash with Dons standing seventh in the Under-18 Professional Development South League.
They will be playing their first tie in this year’s competition and are hoping to better their third round finish from last season when they were eliminated by eventual winners Chelsea.
Edu Rubio hinted that he may switch his side’s formation to combat the strengths of tonight’s opponents.
The referee for the game is Carl Pearse.
Cardiff are already through to the Welsh Youth Cup quarter-finals and play Aberystwyth Town at home.
FAW Youth Cup quarter-final draw (ties to be played Sunday, February 11): Cardiff City v Aberystwyth, Llandudno v Airbus UK Broughton, Swansea City v Newport County, Carmarthen Town v Connah’s Quay Nomads.
Spectators are welcome at the Bluebirds v Palace Professional Development League match and entry is free.
Goalkeeper Lee Camp and striker Rhys Healey are both back in first team training with Cardiff City and may play part of the development fixture, while Anthony Pilkington, Greg Halford and Matt Connolly may also be involved.
All three were unused substitutes in the 2-2 Championship draw against Reading away, which was Cardiff’s first league or cup fixture for 10 days.
Manager Neil Warnock could use the development match to give senior fringe players a run-out, particularly with the likes of Sion Spence, who has netted 12 goals at under-18 level this season, needed by Bellamy’s under-18 team.
