Academy Preview | Swindon (H)

Argyle’s Under-18 side have just two games remaining this season, and as the campaign draws to a close, manager Darren Way reflected on the positives of several of his young squad being involved in first-team affairs during a huge season for the football club.

The first team go into Saturday knowing a win against Burton Albion will secure promotion to the Championship, during a season in which they have reached the Papa Johns Trophy final. A large number of under-18 players played a major part in that run to Wembley, and plenty have appeared in Sky Bet League One games too.

“In terms of development, we've had a lot of positives,” said Way. “Players playing for the first team in the Papa Johns Trophy, they experienced being involved and being around the dressing room and they handled that situation really well. The rewards of that are really pleasing.

“Trying to produce professional footballers now is quite a complex process, certainly when you're looking at the four corners: the tactical side of the game, the technical, the physical and then I think the biggest of them all is the psychological. It goes so deep.

“Making sure you get all those four corners, so the players can perform when they do reach first-team level, it never stops and it constantly keeps evolving. Those players have definitely made big, big improvements and they’ve grown as people as well.”

This Saturday (11am), Argyle take on Swindon Town, in a game being played at Saltash United’s ground. Swindon, eighth, are on the same amount of points as sixth-placed Argyle, having played a game fewer.

In the games played earlier in the season, in the Youth Alliance League, Argyle won 7-0 and 3-0. Way outlined the qualities he is looking for in the final fixtures.

“It's been a long season, as it has been for all teams,” he said, “but I want to see a team that's got a lot of energy, has still got that enthusiasm and is still looking to win.”