A towering Man United defender, the Premier League’s youngest-ever debutant and prodigies being compared to Harry Kane and Declan Rice… The kids hoping to make an impact in the FA Cup third round

  • The FA Cup third round weekend is unfailingly a highlight of the calendar
  • Some Premier League sides will be tempted to field under-strength sides
  • It’s about survival! FA Cup replays must remain for the good of English football – It’s All Kicking Off 



The FA Cup third round weekend is always a highlight of any football season as fans everywhere wish for an upset or two while their own side sails through.

For some of the bigger Premier League teams, it has become an opportunity to give experience to a few up-and-coming talents as senior figures get a weekend off.

It may well be a reflection of the hectic festive schedule or genuine disinterest in a competition that has lost a bit of lustre, but the youngsters handed their opportunity are unlikely to care.

Here’s a few rising stars hoping for a big of Cup magic over the coming few days.

The FA Cup third round weekend is unfailingly one of the highlights of the football calendar
Manchester City won the Cup last season and now teams in the top two tiers enter the fray

 

WILLY KAMBWALA

Manchester United (away to Wigan Athletic, Monday 8.15pm); 19, central defender

Erik ten Hag needs the FA Cup to be his salvation following a poor start to the season but a visit to League One Wigan Athletic certainly ranks as a possible banana skin.

Nonetheless, given their injury issues in defence, we may see another glimpse of teenager Willy Kambwala, who was handed his debut in last month’s defeat to West Ham.

The 6ft 4in defender, who is eligible to play internationally for France or DR Congo, is well-regarded in United’s academy and should be someone we see more of this season.

Manchester United’s young defender Willy Kambwala will be hoping for more action at Wigan

ALFIE GILCHRIST

Chelsea (home to Preston North End, Saturday 5.30pm); 20, defender

Impressively given the vastness of Chelsea’s squad, youngster Gilchrist has featured as a late substitute in their last two Premier League matches.

He is captain of the club’s under-21 side and caught the eye of coach Mauricio Pochettino, who was keen to hand him a first-team debut.

Although Gilchrist is attracting interest from clubs who want to take him on loan, reports suggest Chelsea want to keep him for now and he may well feature against Championship side Preston.

20-year-old defender Gilchrist has featured in Chelsea’s last two Premier League matches

ETHAN NWANERI

Arsenal (home to Liverpool, Sunday 4.30pm); 16, attacking midfielder

Arsenal vs Liverpool on Sunday jumps out as the tie of the round but the strength of the respective teams will be a good barometer as to whether the Cup is desirable or distraction this season.

If Mikel Arteta fields an under-strength side in order to prioritise their Premier League title push, we may see 16-year-old academy hopeful Nwaneri, who recently made the bench against West Ham.

The midfielder became the youngest-ever Premier League player – and by some distance – at 15 years and 181 days when he came off the bench against Brentford in September 2022.

16-year-old Ethan Nwaneri became the Premier League’s youngest-ever player last season
Nwaneri made his top-flight debut in Arsenal’s 3-0 win away at Brentford in September 2022

JAMES MCCONNELL

Liverpool (away to Arsenal, Sunday 4.30pm)l 19, central midfielder

Likewise, Jurgen Klopp may decide to rotate heavily for the FA Cup given Liverpool are top of the Premier League, in the Carabao Cup semi-finals and still in the Europa League.

Among several players hoping for game time is McConnell, who has made brief cameos in one league and two European games so far this season, while often being an unused sub.

Klopp praised the midfielder for his performances during pre-season and a first start for Liverpool would be the natural next step for the young midfielder.

James McConnell (right) in action against Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League

MICAH HAMILTON

Manchester City (home to Huddersfield Town, Sunday 2pm); 20, winger/midfielder

City’s academy is consistently producing talented players and Pep Guardiola is gradually giving a few of them a chance to shine.

One is local lad Micah Hamilton, whose professional debut last month saw him score and win a penalty during City’s 3-2 Champions League win over Red Star Belgrade.

Capable of playing virtually anywhere across the midfield, Hamilton captains City’s under-21 side but is just as likely to be among Guardiola’s subs at the moment.

Manchester City’s Micah Hamilton shone on his senior debut against Red Star Belgrade

JAMIE DONLEY

Tottenham Hotspur (home to Burnley, Friday 8pm); 18, forward

If you’re chucked on for your senior debut deep into stoppage time during a crazy 3-3 draw at Manchester City, it does suggest your manager trusts you.

That happened to forward Donley last month, with Ange Postecoglou making a dream come true for the boyhood Spurs fan who’s been at the club since the age of eight.

He subsequently came on against Newcastle a week later and has been in blistering form for the reserves.

In Northern Ireland, where he was born, reporters have already labelled him the ‘new Harry Kane’. No pressure, kid!

Ange Postecoglou has had no qualms throwing 18-year-old Donley on in big matches

ALEX MURPHY

Newcastle United (away to Sunderland, Saturday 12.45pm); 19, central defender

Irish youth international Murphy has become a common fixture on Newcastle’s bench with Eddie Howe so depleted thanks to an injury pile-up.

He was handed a debut off the bench in the 4-1 win over Chelsea back in November and has been patiently waiting for more opportunities.

Saturday’s crunch Tyne-Wear derby with Sunderland is maybe no place to be blooding youngsters but Murphy could get a taste of what will undoubtedly be a fierce atmosphere.

Newcastle’s Alex Murphy pictured in training – he received his senior debut in November

LEWIS ORFORD

West Ham United (home to Bristol City, Sunday 2pm); 17, central midfielder

With West Ham safely ensconced in the Premier League top six and with the Europa League on hiatus until March, why not have a crack at the FA Cup too?

They have a favourable home draw against mid-table Championship opposition but it would be a shame if some of the youngsters on the fringes of the first team weren’t given a shot.

Orford, 17, is one of these having been an unused sub a couple of times this season. Being an all-action midfielder means the England under-18 international is inevitably compared with a certain £105m footballer who left last summer.

Orford nets for West Ham’s under-21 side at Colchester in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy

MORGAN ROGERS

Middlesbrough (home to Aston Villa, Saturday 5.30pm); 21, attacking/left midfield

No introduction needed for those who follow the Championship but Rogers, who joined Middlesbrough from Manchester City back in the summer, is one of the league’s top performers.

With six goals and seven assists to his credit already, Rogers has helped power Boro to the Carabao Cup semi-finals and they’ll hope for a similarly good run in the FA Cup too.

Michael Carrick’s team face a tricky assignment against Aston Villa but there’s every chance their opponents will value their league situation more than a lengthy FA Cup run.

Middlesbrough’s Morgan Rogers is enjoying a productive season in league and Carabao Cup

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football, launching with a preview show today and every week this season.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify

RICKY-JADE JONES

Peterborough United (home to Leeds United, Sunday 2pm); 21, left winger

Peterborough, flying high in League One, will provide a stiff test for Leeds, who’ve exited at this stage in five of the last six seasons.

The average age of Darren Ferguson’s team is among the youngest in the EFL and one of several stand-out players is Ricky-Jade Jones, who has seven goals and four assists this season.

Jones, 21, is a Posh academy graduate and can play right across the front line as required.

He may help them into the Championship this season anyway but if he can’t, interest from second-tier clubs is probably inevitable in the summer.

Peterborough’s Ricky-Jade Jones prepares to celebrate his winner at Derby on New Year’s Day

Reference

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