Ruth: National League Cup an exciting prospect

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Albion begin their National League Cup campaign at Woking on Tuesday night, kick-off 7pm.

Charlie Hanson

2024-10-01T07:00+01:00

Zane Albarus has shown his ability in different roles this season. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Men’s under-21 head coach Shannon Ruth has said his team are excited to be taking part in the new National League Cup competition.

Albion face Woking on Tuesday night in their opening game of Group A. They will also take on Aldershot Town, Maidenhead United and Wealdstone.

“We are really looking forward to this new competition,” Ruth said. “Any competition that exposes the players to senior football is a positive. It gives them a flavour of what their next loan might be like.

Shannon Ruth was appointed under-21s head coach in September 2022. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

“The fixtures feel and look like a senior competition. The more we can expose the squad to that, the more they can understand what they've got to do to get to the next part of their journey.

“Ultimately, being an under-21s team means the next step is senior football so this competition gives the group a real taste of that.”

The under-21s boss is expecting Woking to provide a real test for his team.

Josh Duffus has four goals to his name so far this campaign. 📷 by Simon Roe.

“The physicality of the game will be a step up. Any under-21 competition sees our boys come up against players their age and with a similar physicality to them.

“This competition will see them come up against men. Woking won't let us get away with anything, it will keep the group honest, it will be competitive and it will give the players great exposure to senior football.”

Entering this competition, alongside taking part in the EFL Trophy, guarantees our under-21s will play at least seven games against teams playing in the National League or higher this season.

Ed Turns in action against Wycombe Wanderers in the EFL Trophy. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

“Having as many competitions as we do is a good thing,” Ruth continued. “We have a large group with some players we might have expected to be out on loan and some really talented younger players who have moved up into the group and are missing the under-18 programme.

“We want to utilise the group and give everyone the opportunity to have an impact. The PL2 game against Boro saw us start three players who hadn't started a league game yet this season, for example.

“We are blending between the players learning to keep their place and stay competitive to stay in the team, but we are also using these competitions to give everyone their opportunity.”