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Wonderkid and 16-goal warrior: 3 Nottingham Forest gems to watch during FA Youth Cup Final

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Nottingham Forest face Manchester United at Old Trafford tonight in the final of the FA Youth Cup. Over 70,000 supporters will be in attendance with Forest taking in excess of 6,000 fans to the Theatre of Dreams.

It’s been an amazing season for the football club. The first team are in the Championship play-offs, the under-23s play Stoke in a play-off semi-final on Sunday and the under-18s are on the cusp of history.

Forest Women are also doing bits. They’ve lifted one trophy already and will face Mansfield Town tonight in the final of the Nottinghamshire County Cup.

Tonight all eyes will be on the under-18s, however, A sold-out Old Trafford awaits and the Reds will hope to etch their names into the history books and lift the trophy for the first time.

Ahead of tonight’s game, we look at three players who could be the ones to watch for the Reds this evening.

Potential Forest matchwinners in FA Youth Cup Final clash:

Detlef Esapa Osong

Esapa Osong sensational
Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

The 16-goal machine fired the Reds into the final with a stunning late brace against Chelsea in the semi-final.

He has enjoyed an unbelievable maiden campaign and his strength could be a vital attribute against United tonight.

Esapa Osong doesn’t seem fazed by anything and he will back himself to get back on the goal trail against United this evening.

Dale Taylor

Northern Ireland v Lithuania - FIFA World Cup 2022 Qualifier
Photo By David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images

It’s been an interesting few weeks for the young Northern Irish wonderkid.

He travelled with the first-team squad to Fulham and was then on the bench as Forest beat Swansea 5-1 at the City Ground.

Taylor has signed professional terms on Trentside and he will want to showcase what all the fuss is about at Old Trafford this evening.

Aaron Bott

Nottingham Forest U18 v Chelsea U18 - FA Youth Cup Semi Final
Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images

Given that United have talent from all over the world lining up to face Forest tonight, it seems only right to include the team’s goalkeeper.

Bott has been in fine form during 2021/22 and he will hope to continue his fine run in the team on the grandest stage tonight.

The 17-year-old has kept five clean sheets this season and another tonight could see Forest lifting the FA Youth Cup.