Saints’ JPT winner Radhi Jaidi has urged the current class of aspiring talent at the club to prove why they are rated as one of the best academies in the world.

The club have put youth development at the heart of their philosophy and were keen to put aside negativity from some Premier League sides and accept their invitation to take part in this season’s Checkatrade Trophy.

Having progressed through the group stages of the competition, the under-23s tonight get the chance to shine in front of a paying crowd at St Mary’s as they face their academy counterparts from Reading for a place in the last 16.

They already know victory would see them face a Football League side in the shape of Yeovil early in 2017 with the winners getting to the quarter-finals and only two further wins from Wembley.

Jaidi was part of the Saints side that lifted the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy in 2010 and knows what a special occasion it can be for senior players, let alone an under-23 side.

And, with just three other academy sides having reached the last 16 thus far, victory against Reading would be further proof that Saints’ youth regime continues to thrive.

Jaidi said: “The competition itself is new to us and it would be great if we could be the last under-23s side left in. That would be a very good sign of what we are doing.

“Hopefully that will be a good encouragement for us to keep going and keep producing the players and facing good teams in this competition.

“We will have the same names and same boys competing for their starting positions on Wednesday. We don’t know yet, but hopefully we have a good team to compete with Reading.”

Saints go into tonight’s game in confident mood having beaten the Royals 3-1 in the Premier League 2 already this season.

“I think the only thing different will be that we are playing in this competition, which is huge for both teams and both academies,” reckoned Jaidi, who will tonight be assisting youth boss Martin Hunter.

“The fact we are going to play at St Mary’s and there will hopefully be some supporters there that will make it slightly different to the league.

“We played Reading a couple of weeks ago and we had a very good performance, so we are expecting the same thing.

“This competition will motivate both teams to want to go to the next round. We have been pushing step by step and hopefully we will put in a better performance and go to the next step against Reading.

“It’s not going to be easy. We will be playing against a team that will change a little bit their style of play and have some good individuals. They will be looking to perform with the game being at such a venue.”

  • Tickets for tonight’s 7pm kick-off are priced £5 adults, £3 over-65s, £1 under-18s. They are available online, in person at the ticket office and via phone on 02381 780780 and will be on sale tonight at the ground.

The first 1,500 supporters will also get a free matchday magazine.