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Middlesbrough’s run to the final of the Premier League Cup is a “fantastic achievement” according to Academy manager Craig Liddle, who wants his players to now go one step further and with the trophy.

Boro Under-18s will host Manchester City at the Riverside Stadium tonight (kick-off 7pm) looking to achieve the club’s greatest youth team cup success since 2004.

That year a Middlesbrough team coached by Mark Proctor lifted the FA Youth Cup.

Now it’s the turn of Mark Tinkler’s side to try and replicate that silverware success.

Assessing the cup run, Liddle said: “First and foremost it is about development but when you get to the semi-final stage and the final stage the result becomes a little bit more relevant.

“From the boys’ perspective, individually it’s a fantastic achievement for them to get to a final of this magnitude playing against some of the best players, not just in the country, but in the world at the same age group.

“To get this far is a fantastic achievement and one which I’m sure they’ll be looking forward to and the staff will be looking forward to. To see how far away or how close we are to the best players in the world.”

Boro have eliminated some top teams on the way to the final.

They topped a group including Tottenham Hotspur, Wolves and Swansea City, before seeing beat Everton 4-1 in the last eight and Derby County 1-0 (after extra time) in the semis.

“The cup starts as a league format so it was an opportunity for the players get a test against some of the teams we haven’t played in the league,” said Liddle, who then praised the Under-18 coaches.

“Mark Tinkler and James Marwood have coached the team and it’s a fantastic achievement for them. The quarter-finals against Everton, the semi-final against Derby, they were two tough games where the tactical performances were excellent, especially against Everton, who are one of the best teams in the country and will probably win the league. That was probably as good a performance as they’ve had this season. They’ve done fantastic with the boys as has Chris Pennock, the goalkeeping coach.”

Meanwhile, City’s Under-18 coach Gareth Taylor won’t be taking victory for granted.

“It’s a great opportunity for the lads,” he told the club’s website. “They will be playing in a first team stadium and there is a trophy at the end of it which doesn’t come along very often.

“We know that we are up against a good Middlesbrough team who are in decent run of form and who beat Derby in their semi-final who, I believe, are one of the best teams in the league.

“The lads have embraced the tournament, and this is going to be one of the bigger games as there’s that bit more on it with a trophy there for the winner.”

So who are the Boro players who will taking on Manchester City tonight?

Philip Tallentire introduces the squad (age in brackets):

Keepers

Sol Brynn (18): A second year scholar and Middlesbrough boy who’s been away with England for training camps. His performance in the semi-final was exceptional and featured several quality saves.

Harry Flatters (17): A young lad Boro signed from York City who has had a good first year with the club.

Defenders

Kieran Charlton (18): A second year scholar from Sunderland. He’s missed most of his scholarship so far due to injuries but is now coming back to ful fitness.

Luke Drummond (18): Like Kieran he’s missed most of his two years so far through injury and won’t be fit for the final.

Daniel Dodds (18): A regular in the side. Daniel’s a right-back from the Newcastle area. He’s a good, quick defender who’s had a good season.

Harold Essien (17): A full-back who joined the club from Man City in the summer.

Nicholas Hood (18): A second year scholar from the Redcar area who’s had a very good season. He’s a quick, athletic centre-half whose distribution is good.

Jack Robinson (17): Jack’s a second year boy from the Middlesbrough area who is technically very good and can play at either centre-half or left-back.

Kian Spence (18): A second year scholar from the Harrogate area who has featured predominately in the Under-23s.

Terry Stephenson (17): A first year scholar who’s a quick, athletic, powerful left-back who’s had a good year. He scored the winner in the semi-final.

Andrew Wilson (17): A centre-half from the Darlington area who will miss the final due to long-term injury.

Nathan Wood (16): Boro’s youngest ever senior player. He played in the quarter-final and the semi-final and hopefully he’ll play the final.

Midfielders

Isiah Cornet (16): A first-year scholar from France who has adapted well since joining us last summer.

Isaac Fletcher (16): Fletch is a Middlesbrough boy and his dad is Andy Fletcher, who was on Boro’s books and was a prolific Northern League striker. A technically gifted midfielder, a big, powerful boy who has missed the last couple of months through injury but it’s hoped he will be fit for the final.

Joe Gibson (17): A quick, tricky winger. He’s a first year boy and one of the younger players in the squad.

Harry Green (17): A first-year scholar from Stockton who suffered a serious injury during his Under-16 year but is close to full recovery.

Hayden Hackney (16): Plays in central midfield, technically good, a big powerful boy who’s had a very good first year. He scored the winning goal in the Checkatrade Cup tie at Burton

Cain Sykes (16): A first year boy from the Sunderland area. He’s a technically gifted central midfielder.

Layton Watts (18): A second-year scholar from the Sunderland area. Another who will miss the final due to injury.

Stephen Wearne (18): A lad from the Teesside area who Boro signed from Newcastle. He’s missed quite a big chunk of the season due to a dislocated shoulder but will hopefully be fit for the final.

Forwards

Alberto Balde (16): Boro signed him from Portadown. He’s featured quite heavily in the Under-18s this year, he’s scored a number of goals and has settled in very well.

Gabriel McGill (18): Gabby’s a striker Boro signed from York City. He scored a hat-trick in the 8-2 victory over Sunderland recently.

Stephen Walker (18): He’s been a big part of Boro’s run and scored a hat-trick in the quarter-finals against Everton. Stephen is currently on loan at MK Dons.

Season Card holders can attend the cup final free of charge. Cards will be activated for entry through the West Stand turnstiles and seating will be unreserved.

Tickets are available to buy from the Riverside ticket office. Non-season card holder prices are: £3 (adults), free (children and concessions), £5 (family ticket - two adults and two children) Cash turnstiles will not be in operation on the day but tickets will be sold from the main ticket office.