WREXHAM will tonight hope to pull-off the shock of the FA Youth Cup when they play host to Southampton at The Racecourse tonight (7pm).

Steve Weaver’s young guns have progressed to the third round of the competition following victories over Skelmersdale and Oldham Athletic but the Reds could not have wished for a harder draw than the Saints who are currently sitting top of the Southern Section for their age-group.

Widely recognised as having one of the best youth set-ups in football, Southampton are favourites to progress to the fourth round – the last 32 – where the winners will face Aston Villa but Weaver knows that there is always the possibility of an upset.

“Oldham in the second round was probably one of the toughest games we could have had at that stage and the lads did well, but we have been given possibly the hardest draw we could have had,” said youth team boss Weaver.

“Southampton are top of the Southern Section and that includes the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. They have one of the best youth systems, some very good players and are tipped to win the competition so it could not be tougher for us. We are fully aware of the potential dangers

“Our team is a young one and includes quite a few schoolboys. But as long as they don’t get overawed, we play to our best and they don’t, we can cause them problems and who knows. The lads are looking forward to it and have nothing to lose. It’s a one-off game.”

Reds’ boss Denis Smith, who has handed first team debuts to Michael Jones and Matty Done who will both be in action tonight, will be an interested spectator at The Racecourse.

“I may be first team manager but I believe I am in charge of football throughout the club and it is important to work as a unit and know who is coming through,” Smith said today. “The lads did well to get past Oldham but have probably got the draw everyone wanted to miss. Southampton have had the best youth policy for a number of years and people I used to work with when I was manager at Oxford United are there and doing a good job.

“But our lads, such as Michael Jones and Matty Done, hopefully have a future in the game and it should be a good game.”

Smith is busy preparing for Wrexham’s next League Two outings against Rochdale at The Racecourse on Boxing Day and is hoping Lee McEvilly will be available.

McEvilly, who has been struggling with a foot injury, picked up a facial injury in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Carlisle United and required hospital treatment.

But Smith was pleased to see Andy Holt play 45 minutes as a second half substitute on his return from a knee injury which had kept the defender out for seven weeks, and the Reds’ boss also has Jim Whitley and Shaun Pejic back in contention for their first team return following serious knee problems.

“Lee went to hospital after the game and was with the dentist yesterday,” added Smith. “Nothing in the mouth was fractured but his teeth were in a mess. There was a lot of work to be done and we’ll have to see how he is, but Lee has not been having the best of luck.

“Andy has now had 45 minutes with the reserves and a half on Saturday which is pleasing. His level of fitness should be good as the players work hard when they are injured, but it does take some time to get up to the pace of matches.”

* Season-ticket holders will have their places reserved for the derby clash at Chester City reserves until this evening. The ticket-office will be open late tonight until 7pm before Wrexham face Southampton in the third round of the FA Youth Cup at The Racecourse. Tickets will then go on general sale from 10.30am tomorrow morning, and the office will also remain open late until 6pm on Thursday evening. The club are holding back a few hundred tickets for late season ticket holders but there will still be more than 500 terrace tickets which will go on general sale. Any remaining tickets will be available on Boxing Day before the match (11am-1.30pm) against Rochdale at The Racecourse, 3pm kick-off, and then again after the final whistle. Wrexham make the trip to Chester City on Wednesday December 28 with a controversial 12noon kick-off.