Frankie Bunn wants Huddersfield Town fans to turn out in force for what he calls the club’s most prestigious fixture of the modern academy era.
Town face Hull City in the Under 21 Premier League Cup semi-finals at the John Smith’s Stadium on Tuesday (7.00).
The prize is a two-legged final showdown with West Ham United or Liverpool, who meet in the other semi in East London on Wednesday.
Town top the Professional Development League II North (Hull are third) and are in line to maintain their 100% record of reaching the play-offs, which started three seasons ago.
“We have won leagues, reached play-off finals and always been in and around it at Under 18 and 21 level over the last four years,” said senior professional development coach Bunn.
“But this is a huge competition given the category one clubs involved (Town are category two).
“To compete against them and beat them is a great testament to the players at this club.”
Middlesbrough and Southampton, who both have category one academies, are among the four clubs already knocked out by Town.
Like their other victims Nottingham Forest and Charlton Athletic, Hull are category two.
But Bunn expects a tough test from a side who are one of only three to have beaten Town this time around.
“We have had two humdingers against them, with one win apiece,” he added.
“Hull are at this stage on merit, just like ourselves.
“They are well organised and aggressive, and make no mistake, this is a tough fixture.
“Having a big crowd getting behind the team could really help, because we badly want to make the final.”
READMORE:
Bunn will name his side after consulting head coach David Wagner.
“We have a few players in and around the first-team squad and a big game at Leeds United on Saturday,” he said.
“It’s David’s shout, but we will go with whoever we have available.
“We have actually chopped and changed quite a lot in recent months, and managed to maintain our consistency.”
Season-card holders and concessions pay just £2 for admission (it’s £4 for adults without a season card) for a tie which will go to extra time and penalties if required.
Town beat Charlton on penalties to make the last four and Bunn explained: “We will be preparing for that eventuality just in case.”
