HULL City's under-18s can make history tonight by becoming the first side in the club's history to reach the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup.
Liverpool are their quarter-final opponents at the KC and, ahead of the game, head of academy coaching Neil Mann gives Philip Buckingham the lowdown on the City squad.1. Leon Dawson
Position: Left-back
Date of birth: 13/05/1996
School: Beverley Grammar
Mann on Dawson: Leon's a first year scholar, a great athlete and more attack-minded as opposed to his first thought being just to defend. He loves to get forward whenever he can but he's had to bide his time at stages of this season. He'll be one that will look to keep improving and kicking on from the experiences of his first full year. 2. Danny Chambers
Position: Centre forward
Date of birth: 28/09/1994
School: Malet Lambert
Mann on Chambers: Danny's in the top five scorers in our league and quickly got us level in the fifth round win over Leicester. The link-up play between Danny and Joel Sutton is excellent, they've probably played together since the age of nine. He'll be a goal threat to any opponent. Danny's one of the louder characters. I've lost count of the nicknames he's given himself!3. Jack Barlow
Position: Midfield
Date of birth: 09/09/1994
School: Lindsey Academy, Grimsby
Mann on Barlow: Jack's been with the club since 14 after making the move from Grimsby Town and he's a player with very good technical ability. On his day, with his technique and range of passing, he can pick opposition teams apart. I'm sure Jack would like to have played more games this season but we know what he's capable of.4. Sam O'Connor
Position: Centre forward
Date of birth: 22/12/1995
School: St Fintans, Sutton, Dublin
Mann on O'Connor: Sam's a first year scholar and he's the type of striker no defender likes to play against. He'll let you know he's in the game, he's strong, athletic and showed what he's capable of when coming off the bench against Leicester to set up two goals. If he's not starting we know Sam will come on and affect the game. 5. Joe Cracknell
Position: Goalkeeper
Date of Birth: 28/09/1994
School: Kelvin Hall
Mann on Cracknell: He is very laid back, not much ruffles him at all. He's been in and around the first-team, which has been a great experience for him, and he's had a very good apprenticeship. He's a second year scholar and hopefully he can kick on in the next couple of years. He and Rory Watson have shared the goalkeeping duties but it's been Joe who's played in the FA Youth Cup and done well, especially at Northampton. He's the cool head defenders want.6. Ben Clappison
Position: Centre-back
Date of birth: 31/10/1994
School: Malet Lambert
Mann on Clappison: Ben's a second year scholar and been with us since the age of nine. He's got great pace, reads the game very well and is strong in the air. Our two centre-backs are both East Hull lads and have shown a great partnership. As a team we've not let in many goals this season and they have been a great partnership for us all year long. We've had to show resilience as a team at stages of the FA Youth Cup run and it's players like Clappy who have dug in to ensure we get the right result.7. Tom Davie
Position: Left-back
Date of birth: 08/10/1994
School: Hull Trinity House
Mann on Davie: Tom's been with us since he was eight or nine, he's one of the lads that has come all the way through the system. He's very much a forward-thinking left-back, who loves to join in the attack. A big strength of his is pushing on, making overlapping runs and he's always trying to make goalscoring opportunities for him and the team. He doesn't mind a tackle, either, and doesn't leave anything in the dressing room. He's an East Hull lad, like a lot of the squad, and gives it everything.8. Rory Watson
Position: Goalkeeper
Date of birth: 05/02/1996
School: Tadcaster Grammar
Mann on Watson: Rory is from York and he's an under-17s first-year goalkeeper. Along with Crackers, he's shared the goalkeeping duties this season and done well whenever he's had the chance. We like to give both goalkeepers the chance to show what they can do but we've gone with the experience of Joe in the FA Youth Cup. He pulled off some great saves against York last weekend and he would be naturally disappointed if he doesn't make the side, but his time will come next year I'm sure.9. Ryan Fallowfield
Position: Right midfield
Date of birth: 03/01/1996
School: Vermuyden, Goole
Mann on Fallowfield: Ryan has been with us since 12 and is a Goole lad. He's very much a lively character, who's always got something to say in the right way. There's a bit of an edge to him that I like and it shows in his performances on the pitch. You can never fault his effort and determination, it is always there to be seen for all. He's played in every game of the FA Youth Cup run and done very well for a first-year scholar. He'll be with us again next season and hopefully will continue to improve his game.10. Niall Doran
Position: Midfield
Date of birth: 22/10/1995
School: McAuley Catholic High, Doncaster
Mann on Doran: He's been very unfortunate with injuries this season. He dislocated his knee cap in pre-season and has only just returned to the fold in the last couple of months. There's been a few niggles since then so he's not really got started yet in terms of his game time. That's been difficult but he's a player that's got good technical ability who can change a game in a flash with his style of play. We've got our fingers crossed that he gets lucky and steers clear of injuries from now on.11. Eoghan McCawl
Position: Centre midfield
Date of birth: 31/01/1996
School: St Colmcille's, Downpatrick
Mann on McCawl: Eoghan is a Northern Irish lad and he was spotted by the same scout that first alerted us to Dougie Wilson. He was first recommended to us as a 14-year-old and we were able to bat off the interest from a few clubs to make sure we got his signature. We're delighted to have him here because he's an attack-minded midfielder, who loves to break forward. I wouldn't say he's a particularly tough tackler but he reads the game well and nips in. Always on the front foot looking for those loose balls.12. Joel Sutton
Position: Centre forward
Date of birth: 29/09/1994
School: Kelvin Hall
Mann on Sutton: Joel's got great pace and has a really strong work-ethic off the ball. I'm sure he would probably say he'd like to get more goals but his work for the team is sometimes to the detriment of his own game and being a scoring threat. We'd never overlook the role he plays for the team but he's shown he can take his chances well. He was on the scoresheet when we beat Swansea in the third round. His partnership with Danny Chambers has been almost 10 years in the making through our youth system.13. Brad Ricketts
Position: Centre midfield
Date of birth: 11/12/1994
School: Malet Lambert
Mann on Ricketts: Brad's probably more of a holding midfielder than an attacking force, but he has popped up with a couple of goals from outside the box this season. He's one that likes to get on the ball in deep areas where he can use his vision and range of passing to get the side going from deep. We like to get the ball down and play from midfield and Brad is often the one who gets that side of our game going. He's another of the East Hull lads and is in his second year as a scholar with us.14. Sam Topliss
Position: Right-back
Date of birth: 23/10/1994
School: Tollbar Academy, Grimsby
Mann on Topliss: Toppo is a Grimsby lad but he's been with us since he was 10 so he's an adopted son of Hull if you like. He's a strong athlete who loves to join in on the attack, but he's defensively assured as well. You won't see many wingers get the better of him. He doesn't give much away but we know that when he pulls the shirt on we know exactly what we'll get from him, 100 per cent. He's a second year pro who lives in club digs in Cottingham with Jack Barlow.15. Matty Dixon
Position: Left midfield
Date of birth: 19/12/1994
School: Hornsea
Mann on Dixon: Matty is our captain and someone that's been with us since he was eight. He's the captain because he's someone the other lads look up to. He sets the right example in the dressing room and out on the pitch, and is demanding of others around him. He's a winner who wants the best for himself and his team-mates. Although he's a right footer, he plays on the left and scored our goal to win at Northampton in the fourth round. He's a Brandesburton kid like Will Atkinson and I'm sure he'll want to emulate him.16. Max Clark
Position: Centre-back
Date of birth: 19/01/1996
School: Malet Lambert
Mann on Clark: Max is probably the name that gets most recognition because of the England call-ups at under-16s and under-17s. People are bound to take notice of that but he's not the type of character that will let it go to his head. If anything, he plays it down. He's another lad that doesn't say too much but his performances in training and games speak for themselves, that's when he comes to life. He's very comfortable on the ball.NOT ON PICTUREHarry Cardwell
Position: Centre-forward
Date of birth: 28/10/1996
School: South Hunsley
Mann on Cardwell: Harry's only in our under-16s but he's earning a bit of a reputation as super sub after coming off the bench to score the winners against Swansea and Leicester. He's a player that obviously has natural goalscoring ability and doesn't need asking twice to take a chance. He's part of our day release system so he comes in from school to train with us. That's made him comfortable in our environment and helped him make the step up. We believe he's got a very good chance in the game if he can keep progressing like he has.Alex Penny
Position: Centre-half, centre-forward
Date of birth: 16/02/1997
School: Withernsea High
Mann on Penny: Alex is from over Withernsea way but he's won international honours with Wales at under-16s in the Victory Shield. He's the youngest member of the squad but he's valuable because of the number of positions he can play. He's played a lot at centre-back for us but can also play in midfield and as a centre-forward. When he's called upon he can do an excellent job. His challenge is to keep progressing.
