Weaver hoping a ‘thirst for knowledge’ will increase attendence for FA Youth Cup clash

City's Under-18s beat Newcastle United 3-2 in the third round of the competition and Weaver is hoping an increased amount of supporters take in the fixture against United.

The Canaries first team contains five academy graduates, including Adam Idah and Max Aarons, both of whom starred in the City side who reached the quarter finals of the competition in the 2017-18 season.

"They're in good form. The key to this game is that our Under-23s trained on Friday, our Under-18s team will have played on Saturday, so it'll come together on Monday for Tuesday night. I always think the FA Youth Cup is a chance for the supporters to get a feel for someone.

"When Adam [Idah] got his hat-trick against Preston, they'd already seen him score a hat-trick against Barnsley in the FA Youth Cup, so they aren't surprised when a player does burst onto the scene.

"We're a good club for that, maybe it's because we're so far away from the next club but there's a genuine interest in our youth players," said Weaver.

"Everyone seems to know everything about the club rather than it just being about the first team. There's a thirst for knowledge here and the club are keen to promote young players and the academy."

A positive performance in the Youth Cup can create an opportunity in the first team, as young winger Josh Martin has discovered.

"Josh [Martin] scores a hat-trick against Newcastle and then spends two weeks training with the first team, that's the way it is. People thrive from opportunity and there are plenty of clubs that don't provide that, but we do that here.

"There are loads of things those lads won't be used to, the game being televised and a bigger crowd which is great for their development. I cannot sit in front of you now and tell you who is going to play well because there's always surprises.

"It's going to be a good football match because both teams play open football."