Under-18s midfielder Harrison Miles says tonight’s FA Youth Cup semi-final encounter with Blackburn Rovers will be a ‘physical battle’.

City take on Rovers at the Joie Stadium on Friday 10 April, with kick-off slated for 19:00 (UK).

It will be our third encounter with the fellow Under-18 Premier League North outfit in 2025/26.

Our home game saw City win 7-3 before a 5-0 triumph in the reverse fixture saw our young boys in blue complete the double over tonight’s opponents.

And with the team hard at work this week preparing for the semi-final, Miles detailed what they expect from Blackburn in our clash.

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“When we played them [in the league] they definitely gave us a physical battle and got stuck into us,” began Miles.

“So I’m definitely expecting that. But I think if we don’t get caught up in those situations I think we can play around it.

“I expect them to try and play on the counter attack as well but we will have to see how they set up and we’ll have to adapt to it.”

For 17-year-old Miles, this is his second season representing City in the prestigious competition.

He played in all but one of last season’s FA Youth Cup games and has been just as prolific in City’s engine room this term, featuring in all games up to now.

And this time around, he and the team are hoping to learn from last season’s FA Youth Cup final defeat to Aston Villa and hope to lift the trophy on home soil.

“It’s the FA Youth Cup, if you win it you’re the best team In England,” said Miles when asked why the competition is so special.

“All the players that have won it, all the players who have played in it, I think it’s a special and momentous thing if you win it and that’s why all the team and all the staff are trying to get us over the line this year.

“And making a second successive final is important because it shows the strength of the Academy as well.

“But also for the first years last year that played in the final understand the feeling that we had when we lost, and the National final too understand how we felt and we’ve got to go and put it right this year.

“And if we do that would be amazing. And then hopefully the first years this year can carry that on as well.”

Tickets for the game are still available, click here to get yours!