By Chris O'Brien
May 3 2004

Reserve team boss Paul Wilkinson is hoping that some of his youngsters can break into the first-team squad next season. City's second-string won their regional league this season, and many of the younger crop of players have shown true potential.

Cardiff City's reserve team manager Paul Wilkinson is hoping that a few of his second-string players will be able to push into the Bluebirds first-team squad next season.

Wilkinson was appointed at Ninian Park in October, and has led the reserves to the regional league title and his side now face a play-off with Reading to decide who will be crowned Pontin's South Combination winners. the club has been guilty of fielding overly-strong line-ups in the reserves, but many of the younger players have also played a leading role in City's success in the Wales & West England league, and the former Middlesbrough striker hopes that some of his players will make senior appearances for the Bluebirds next season.

"It would be nice to get some of them in the squad, but it's up to them really how hard they can push their claims next season," said Wilkinson.

"Seven or eight of them will be first-year professionals next season and I will be pushing them on as much as possible and looking to get one or two of them in to the first-team squad."

Teenage striker Stuart Fleetwood is thought to be the youngster at the club who possesses the most potential, and the pacey forward has been a regular in the reserve team this season. Fleetwood has made a handful of first-team appearances this season, and scored in City's FAW Premier Cup quarter-final win over Newport County. Midfielder Nicky Fish is another player thought to have what it takes to establish himself as a First Division player in the future, and with a mass exodus of players expected over the pre-season, both could find themselves on first-team duty next term.