Portsmouth handed huge double boost in bid to pull off Newcastle United shock in FA Youth Cup
Pompey took Leeds to extra-time in the same competition at the third-round stage last season
Pompey’s FA Youth Cup hopes have been boosted by the return of in-form Tayo Singerr to spearhead their tough Newcastle United mission.
And Ashton Sizer, who has occupied John Mousinho’s first-team bench in recent weeks, is also included for Tuesday night’s third-round clash at Whitley Park (6pm).
It’s a daunting fixture, yet, having taken another Category One team in Leeds to extra-time at this stage last season before succumbing to a 3-2 loss, Hudson is adamant they can pull off a shock.
Certainly his options have been bolstered by having Singerr back in the fold, having scored 13 goals in 18 appearances this season during an ongoing loan at high-flying Moneyfields in the Isthmian League South Central Division.
Portsmouth Academy boss: We will back ourselves against anyone
Under the terms of the under-18s cup competition, the striker, who also netted on his Pompey first-team debut in August, is eligible to turn out for the Blues’ Academy.
He will be joined by centre-half Sizer, who has spent the last three matches among Mousinho’s substitutes in the Championship, albeit being unused.
And Pompey Academy lead professional development phase coach Hudson has no fears heading to the North-East.
He told The News: ‘We will back ourselves on the day against anyone and approach it with an open mind and confidence. We’ll also be pretty much at full-strength, so there are good options to start and good options from the bench.
‘Tayo is in contention. He’s had a strong start to his Moneyfields loan, scoring a lot of goals, and we’re really pleased with how he has settled in there.
‘It’s a hybrid schedule, which means he trains with Moneyfields in the evenings, while continuing to train with us pretty much every single day. Although he will be on reduced loads with us on Moneyfields days.
‘You can definitely see his development. Any exposure to men’s football for any of the scholars adds a different side to their game, it’s really important for us to try to prep them for the Championship squad.
‘Tayo captained us for much of last season, he’s a really good leader on and off the pitch, setting a good example to others. He’s also really good in front of goal, who organises and presses well, while helping to win the ball back high.
‘He’s a really strong head on young shoulders’
‘Ashton is also a top young professional, who has a really strong head on his young shoulders and is a good character.
‘He played up with the under-18s as an under-16 last year, almost exclusively, and really impressed with his physical defending, his heading and duelling. He’s comfortable on the ball too.’
Pompey are without regular keeper Conal McDermott, with the second-year scholar too old for the competition, although midfielder Fraser Thomas, who impressed in Pompey’s pre-season, is now playing again following a quad injury.
‘We certainly want the same levels of performance’
Hudson added: ‘As I said at the time, I felt we deserved a little more than we got on the evening against Leeds last season. We certainly want the same levels of performance, which we know we can show, but this time around a different result.
‘I was really impressed with our pressing intensity, which was very good. We got the equaliser through that, forced a lot of mistakes and had a lot of high regains and turnovers.
‘We played in their half quite a lot, which is really important, we want as much territory as we can. It’s similar to how the first-team press and try to get after people.
‘We’re going all this way and want to give the best account of ourselves. One of the ways to do that is being really aggressive in what we do.’