He may already be established at under-23 level but Norwich City right-back Max Aarons is 'buzzing' for FA Youth Cup action at Carrow Road tomorrow night.
The 18-year-old has made 18 appearances for City's U23s this season but has also played in every round of the U18s' run to the quarter-finals of the Youth Cup, which has teed up Tuesday's clash with Birmingham (7pm).
'It's really good to play above your age group, it helps you progress a lot more than playing with your own age group,' Aarons said. 'So I'm really happy with how the season has gone – and the run we've gone on in the Youth Cup as well.
'We're buzzing for it, we can't wait, we just want to go out, show the fans what we can do, have another good performance and hopefully get through to the semi-finals.'
Aarons, originally from Milton Keynes, is another to have followed former academy manager Gregg Broughton across from Luton Town, with first teamer Jamal Lewis and U18s team-mate Alan Fleming having followed the same path.
The youngster also has an ideal sounding board for advice, in cousin Rolando Aarons, who has progressed through the Newcastle academy, represented England at U20 level and is currently on loan in Italy with Verona.
'He spoke to me before the Newcastle game, because he plays for them and just said 'don't score!' and things like that,' Aarons said, of the fifth round 4-3 defeat of the Magpies in extra-time.
'But yeah I like to get advice from him because he's been through it all already.'
The young Canaries have had to come from behind in all of their ties so far, beating Barnsley 4-1 in round three and Derby 4-2 in round four, but intend to start quickly against the Blues as they play a fourth successive tie at Carrow Road.
'We have spoken about it, we know we need to start better, especially against the better teams because they won't give us a chance and let us back into the game,' he continued. 'So we've been working on ways to get around that and hopefully it'll be a faster start.'
Chelsea or Fulham await the winners in the semi-final, with the first leg at home for City or Birmingham.
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