NEW Island under-18 football manager Dave Walsh takes an inexperienced and young squad into the FA County Youth Cup on Sunday afternoon.

Jersey host Surrey in the second round of this year’s competition with only five players from last year’s squad, but with the knowledge that a victory will secure them an attractive, if tough-looking, home tie in the last 16 against Liverpool or Durham.

Walsh said: ‘It’s not going to be an easy game by any stretch of the imagination.

Surrey encompasses a big area of of London and I’m sure they will be a physically strong side and a stern test for us.

‘Our lads are still learning on the training ground under coach Dave Kennedy and if they can take on to the pitch what they are doing at training then we could do well.

‘Collectively they pass the ball very well, while defensively the players work very hard for each other.

‘It’s a young, talented squad and I’ve every confidence in the players’ abilities.

Others have obviously been left out but they have not been forgotten.

Many are on the fringes, it’s a long season and the door is not closed for anyone.’ Walsh, who has six years’ experience as Island U18 coach, has named a squad of 16.

They are: Greg Forster, Max Jouan, Adam Speight, Jonny Lee, Tom Wherry, Dane Sutton, Joel Speight, Aaron Maynard, David Kenyon, Kieron Norman, Jack Boyle, Sean Doran, Danny Flynn, Jamie Cullen, Craig Russell and Ryan Le Cornu.

Former Southampton Youth Academy player Joel Speight will captain the Jersey team.

Walsh said: ‘Joel is in his third season at U18 level and he also has the experience of playing two years with Southampton’s Youth Academy side and training with Jersey’s senior squad.

‘He is a quality player who looks to be back to form following a recent injury.

He has pace and is a great reader of the game.’ Striker Ryan Le Cornu has shaken off a back injury and he is likely to start in a two-pronged attack with Craig Russell, another promising player who was in Jersey’s senior squad that won the Jersey International U21 tournament in August.

There are also two 15-year-olds about to make their mark, too, goalkeeper Max Jouan, who is attracting interest from Southampton, and midfielder Jack Boyle, who is being tracked by Glasgow Celtic.

Kick-off at Springfield on Sunday is at 1 pm.