Two Northern Ireland teenagers are helping spearhead Nottingham Forest’s quest to make history in this season’s FA Youth Cup.
The City Ground club’s U18s have never won - or reached the final of - English football’s most prestigious youth knockout competition.
But Forest are now just one step away from the showpiece after beating Blackburn Rovers U18s in Thursday night’s quarter-final at Ewood Park.
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Featuring in the 3-1 victory were midfielder Jamie McDonnell, who captained the side, and striker Dale Taylor who made his senior Northern Ireland debut in November's friendly win over Lithuania.
Forest's reward is a high profile semi-final date with Chelsea who have lifted the FA Youth Cup an impressive nine times, winning the competition for FIVE successive years between 2014 and 2018.
Taylor, who returned from a calf injury to face Rovers, scored against Bristol City and Peterborough in previous rounds of the FA Youth Cup.
And McDonnell, who has represented Northern Ireland at U19 and U17 level, fired home the opening spot-kick in a penalty shootout win over Cambridge U18s in the last-16.
The talented 18-year-olds, who are highly rated by Forest's coaching staff, were spotted by highly-regarded English scout Bob Shaw and are represented by local agent Stephen Whelan.
Blackburn were favourites to reach the last-four, but Esapa Oson scored twice after Jack Nadin had given the visitors the lead.
The winners of the Forest v Chelsea tie will face either Manchester United or Wolverhampton Wanderers in the final.
After Thursday night’s win, the club’s academy director Gary Brazil confirmed that first team boss Steve Cooper had made the trip to Ewood Park.
He tweeted: "Fantastic disciplined performance by our boys tonight against a very good side. Congratulations to staff and players, a great team effort from all at @NFFCAcademy. Well supported by all at @NFFC, including Steve Cooper making the journey up to Ewood Park."
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