The youth of today

Blues youth team aim to make a bit of history on Monday night at St Andrew's.

Victory over Watford in the FA Youth Cup (7pm) would take them into the semi-finals for the first time since 1985.

Blues have a decent chance, too.

They and Watford are the only Championship sides left in the competition (Liverpool await the winners).

And Blues beat the Hornets a couple of weeks back, although Academy supremo Terry Westley points out that they had a lot of regulars missing that day.

It's the second time in three years Westley's charges have made it to the last eight.

Blues have not had a great tradition in the competition (they were runners-up in 1967), and in modern times their youth policy has been an afterthought.

Westley, who has helped launch the careers of Matthew Upson, Kieron Dyer and Tom Huddlestone amongst others, has slowly but surely been changing the reputation.

A hard taskmaster, he doesn't hesitate to fast-track those with potential. And only the talented and strong will survive at Blues while he is in the job, it seems.

No bad thing that. Blues don't spent millions on recruiting the best young talent across the globe, and in this country. That's why the youth policies of many others, mainly the big boys in the Premier League, thrive.

If you come through the system at Blues, then there is something about you.

Jordon Mutch is the great hope, assuming that Blues don't do something stupid and mess up his professional contract, which has yet to be signed.

Krystian Pearce is a young Radhi Jaidi with expertise on the deck, if you will, while Jared Wilson, Artur Krysiak and Semih Aydilek are gaining valuable experience on loan.

Monday, watch out for midfield duo Ashley Sammons, a confident ball-player, and Mitch McPike (Mutch remains a long-term casualty).

Dean Lyness in goal has been on the first team bench this season, as have the aforementioned pair.

The last few notables to come up through the ranks have been Andrew Johnson, Darren Carter and Mat Sadler.

There is nothing like blooding your own, and Westley is determined that a breakthrough is made (Mutch got a foot in, then succumbed to growing pains).

"People talk about Rodwell at Everton and Shelvey at Charlton," he says, "well, I would class our midfield in the same bracket as them, they've just had first team recognition."

Admission for Monday's game is £4 and £2 and the club website will be providing live commentary with BRMB's Joe Holt and myself doing the talking.