The FA Youth Cup can be a great springboard for Nottingham Forest’s next generation of talent, according to first-team head coach Steve Cooper.
Warren Joyce’s Under-18s progressed to the quarter-finals of the competition with a penalty shootout victory over Cambridge United last week.
Their success came on the same night as Cooper’s team triumphed 2-0 at Ewood Park - which, in a twist of fate, will be the scene for the youth team’s next tie in the cup as they take on Blackburn Rovers on March 3.
Cooper takes a keen interest in the Reds’ academy. A number of Under-23s players regularly train with the senior squad, while the likes of Ateef Konate and Oli Hammond have been included on a matchday.
And the Welshman is pleased another crop of promising youngsters are taking their chance to impress.
“Warren was missing quite a few important players for that one, as well,” Cooper said of the Youth Cup clash with Cambridge.
“I spoke to him on Tuesday morning and I rang him on the way after our game at Blackburn as well.
“It’s great. It’s great that they got through.
“They had to go through a penalty shoot-out, which is a great experience for the players, having to do it after extra-time, when they’re really tired.
“The FA Youth Cup is a bit of a different experience.
“They were playing against a team in a lower category but who still have some really good players.”
The score was 0-0 between the two sides after extra-time, with Forest going on to win 5-3 on penalties in front of a 900-strong crowd.
They have also seen off Bristol City and Peterborough United on their way to the last eight of the competition.
“These Youth Cup games are always really important experiences for the players, even when they don’t go so well, because they are great to learn from,” Cooper added.
“There was a bit of a crowd there as well, which will have been good for them.
“The only disappointing thing is we weren’t there to see it, because we would love to have been.
“Ironically, they go to Blackburn next. The pitch was in decent condition when we were there, so it should be a good one for them.”
