Local Croatian outfit HNK Gorica provide the opposition in a repeat of the exhibition match which took place in the same location a year ago to the day.
Although it’s only a friendly, ever-competitive EDS boss Patrick Vieira will surely be eying a dose of revenge for the 1-0 defeat his side went down to in that game at NK Novigrad Stadium.
His Elite Development Squad warmed up for the match with an in-house game on Wednesday night – a 3x20 minute workout to put into practice the methodology his charges have been working through over the past four days.
Vieira begins his second pre-season in charge with of the under-21s and he spoke to CityTV about how preparations are coming along in Croatia.
City u18s ramp up their pre-season preparations with a first test against foreign opposition when they take on FC Istra on Saturday morning.
The boy Blues had a chance to get some match practice under their belt with a 6 v 6 in house game on Wednesday morning, but the local side will give Jason Wilcox a chance to examine the progress his young charges are making in the searing Croatian heat.
There was also a chance for several members of the squad to gain some experience with the EDS in Wednesday evening’s clash of City XIs.
James Hardy certainly took the chance to impress, netting a brace as the Blacks ran out 2-0 victors, while there were also starts for Tom Holland, Nathaniel Oseni, Cameron Humphreys, Aaron Nemane and Sam Tattum.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s game, U18s Head Coach, Jason Wilcox said: “We’re all really looking forward to the first game. We’ve had an in house game when we were able to introduce certain concepts with how we want to play this year so I’m looking forward to seeing how we put it into practice against the opposition on Saturday.
“When I first came to the club three or four years ago this is the group I worked with, although we have had some additions and we have lost a lot of last year’s team to the EDS.
“Their work ethic is outstanding, they have taken everything on board and they’re working really hard, so I can’t ask for more than that.”
City EDS v HNK Gorica kicks off at NK Novigrad Stadium is at 6pm (BST).
City u18s v FC Istra kick off 9.30am (BST).
We’ll have live goal updates from each game on our official Twitter account, a match report at full-time, as well as highlights and reaction on the site on Sunday.
