Ben Folami and Idris El Mizouni will be in the Blues’ U23s side which is in action at Watford this afternoon (KO 1pm). Also likely to be involved is central defender Corrie Ndaba, whose loan move to Chelmsford broke down at the end of last week.

The young Blues will be looking to continue their impressive recent form, which has seen them climb from the bottom of the Professional Development League Two South table up to seventh. The Hornets currently sit top and are unbeaten in their last four matches.

Ndaba's proposed loan move to Chelmsford was blocked the Vanarama National League on Friday due to the Clarets' financial issues. Barry Cotter could also return to the U23s today as the extension to his loan spell was also blocked.

Ndaba, 19, had been pencilled in for a first-team debut at the end of last season but is still to make his senior bow, even in the Leasing.com Trophy.

“Corrie came to Germany with us, and he and Woolfy were probably on a level playing field,” manager Paul Lambert recalled.

“Woolfy has done great and really took off, Corrie found it a little bit difficult and needs a little bit of help and if we can get him it then great.

“I think he needs a loan to get out there and play, Woolfy did it at Swindon and I think that’s important. He’s a talented footballer but he just needs a little bit of help and not just playing U23s football.”

The last few U23s teams have involved no experienced first-team players - and the same is likely to be the case today - as Lambert doesn’t believe they get much from playing games at that level.

“I’m not an advocate of U23 football for senior players and what they get out of it,” he said. “They get the 90 minutes game time, but it’s not the intensity they normally pick up.

“It’s good for the younger guys that are making their name and sometimes for the experienced ones it works on certain occasions and sometimes it doesn’t, so sometimes I like them training with us where the intensity is really high then what they’d get from a U23 game.”

Meanwhile, the Blues' U18s beat Coventry 4-1 at home on Saturday morning with Allan Viral (2), Dylan Ruffles and Fraser Alexander on the scoresheet.

On Wednesday evening, Adem Atay’s side take on King’s Lynn in the first round of the FA Youth Cup at Portman Road (KO 7.45pm). If they win they will face Exeter in round two, also at home.

Photo: TWTD

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