Fleetwood Town boss and boyhood Everton fan Joey Barton is looking forward to the challenge when he takes his side to Goodison Park to face Everton's Under-21s in the EFL Trophy next week.
Barton's side were drawn away to Everton's under-21s side in the second-round of the EFL Trophy last week and the game has been scheduled for Tuesday next week.
Fleetwood made it through to the second-round after finishing second in their group whilst David Unsworth young Everton side topped their group which included Mansfield Town, Crewe Alexandra and Burton Albion.
Speaking of taking his side to his boyhood club, Barton told the Blackpool Gazette on Friday that now the fixture has a date set he is "looking forward to it."
"It’s been moved to Tuesday now, there was a bit of nonsense about when it was being arranged but finally we have it in the diary now, it comes as a part of a congested period of fixtures, we’re delighted, we just want to bounce game to game now," Barton said.
Speaking about the EFL Trophy, Barton told the Blackpool Gazette that: "We’re really enjoying it. It’s a good challenge for us, a midweek game, going back to Goodison, it’ll be nice. It’ll be the first time I’ve ever done that as a manager, albeit against an U21s side."
"We’ll pay them the ultimate respect by picking the strongest side we can, we want to go to Wembley and I’m sure they do," Barton added, "we expect a really good cup tie. Hopefully we’ll get a good crowd there.”
Fleetwood lie just one point outside the League One play-off places and host Tranmere Rovers on Saturday, and Barton will be hoping his side will provide a good test for Everton's Under-21's side.
The Verdict
Barton has reiterated that he is taking the EFL Trophy seriously and that is something I have always admired.
Although some don't consider the competition a priority, I agree with that view that winning breeds confidence and momentum and any team and manager should do all they can to win no matter what the occasion is.
On a personal level, the Everton fixture will be a great personal moment for Barton as he will be managing for the first time at Goodison Park, but will be hoping the occasion doesn't get to him too much as he looks to progress in the competition.