Preview: Newcastle United Under-21s v Rovers Under-21s

Rovers Under-21s return to action in Premier League 2 this evening when Mike Sheron takes his team to the north-east to take on Newcastle United Under-21s.

It’s a quick turnaround for the youngsters, who played against Carlisle United in the Central League Cup on Tuesday afternoon.

It was a big victory in the first outing of the competition’s campaign in Cumbria, with Rovers running out comfortable 5-0 victors at Brunton Park after selecting a strong side against Mark Birch’s Blues.

Balazs Toth, Kyle McFadzean, John Buckley, Joe Rankin-Costello, Todd Cantwell and Amario Cozier-Duberry all started that encounter, with the latter netting a hat-trick in the win, but the senior six won’t be included for tonight’s test due to first-team involvement against Queens Park Rangers tomorrow.

Harry Leonard marked his return to action in the 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa in PL2 last time out in league action and will be hoping to keep his place after featuring for just over an hour at Bodymoor Heath training ground last weekend.

Igor Tyjon scored Rovers’ goal in that defeat and should continue in attack unless required for the first-team on Saturday afternoon.

George Pratt, Alex Baker, Isaac Whitehall remain sidelined, whilst the game comes too soon for Zak Gilsenan.

However, Nick Michalski is eligible to feature after returning from a loan spell at Bamber Bridge, whilst Exauce Mafoumbi, Aodhan Doherty and Harley O’Grady-Macken could all earn recalls to the team after being left out of the squad in midweek.

As for Newcastle, they have four points from their opening four games in Premier League 2 and tonight’s test will be the first in charge for Diarmuid O’Carroll, who was appointed Under-21s chief only on Wednesday. The 37-year-old arrives after being assistant to Stephen Robinson at Scottish side St Mirren.

The Magpies come into this evening’s match on the back of a 1-0 loss at home to West Ham United’s Under-21s last week.

As for Rovers, Sheron’s charges are still looking for their first point of the campaign having suffered defeat in each of their first four league encounters.

Kick-off is at 7pm this evening.