YOUNG Burnley goalkeeper Conor Mitchell will face a real test today when he tries to thwart a Russia under 19s team who have scored 29 goals in two games.
Mitchell started for Northern Ireland under 19s on Thursday in their 2-0 loss to the Czech Republic in Dungannon, which was the first of three European Under 19 Championship qualifiers in the space of five days.
They take on the Faroe Islands in Belfast on Tuesday but first they face a particularly tricky fixture against Russia in Dungannon this afternoon.
The Russia under 19s team hit the headlines last week with an astonishing 22-0 victory over non-league side Cheadle Town in a warm-up fixture.
Russia led 9-0 at half time and added 13 goals after the interval. Such was their dominance that Cheadle’s goalkeeper was actually praised for preventing Russia from scoring more.
Russia then followed up that triumph with a 7-0 victory over the Faroe Islands in the first of their European Under 19 Championship qualifiers on Thursday night.
Mitchell signed a one-year professional deal with Burnley earlier this year and the 18-year-old previously helped Northern Ireland to victory in the prestigious Milk Cup youth tournament.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here