Wilkinson’s young charges have made a ‘pretty positive start’ to our Premier League U18s campaign, according to the boss, as we sit in fourth spot, one place and one point behind this weekend’s opponents Wolves albeit having played two games less.
Our last match was a thriller – a 4-3 home defeat to Nottingham Forest – and a result that Wilkinson wants to move on from.
Preparations haven’t been ideal for today’s encounter though, with international commitments meaning our last scheduled clash with Newcastle United had to be postponed.
But the manager is hoping his players can get back on the winning trail regardless of the build-up, against an improving Wolves academy.
The game will be shown on CITY+, with kick-off at 12:30 (UK).
CITY V WOLVES | WATCH LIVE ON CITY+
“Wolves are an academy in the last few years that have really made huge strides forward,” said Wilkinson.
“They are very competitive all the time. They are doing quite well this season. They had a new coach. They wanted to change their style slightly and they’ve had some positive results so they’ll be giving it all their attention this weekend and look to have a really pleasing performance.
“I’m sure they will have taken encouragement from our last result as well so I think it will be a really exciting game.
“We are coming off the back of a defeat and quite a lot of uncertainty in terms of what the game looks like and who will be playing so it’s probably not going to look perfect from our point of view.
“But the players need the opportunity to play and to go and show people that the Nottingham Forest game was just a blip really and also they have the ability to react to disappointing circumstances.
“I am sure it will be a really exciting game to watch.”
Watch the manager’s preview in the video player above.
