MANCHESTER City will play a cup semi final at Leigh Sports Village tonight.

After wowing football fans with a 6-0 demolition of Blackburn Rovers at Leigh Sports Village last Monday, City’s talented youngsters are returning to LSV to play Burnley in the Barclays U21 Premier League Cup semi finals at 7pm.

City were so enamoured with Leigh Sports Village’s facilities and atmosphere, they asked if they could hold the fixture with Burnley at the stadium.

“We were only too happy to help,” said chief executive Simon Toon.

“The reason some of the region’s biggest clubs like to play their under 21s home games here is that we are able to offer players, staff and supporters a big-match experience in a state-of-the-art stadium.

"These aren’t training ground exercises, they’re exciting, high-stakes games full of great skill and entertainment.

“And the proof is in the attendances. We’re getting thousands of people coming to these games.”

The Barclays Under 21s Premier League Cup is a new competition for this season for football academies of all categories.

Burnley, a Category 3 academy side, have done spectacularly well to reach this stage, beginning their cup campaign way back in early October with a qualifying round win on penalties over Wigan.

Since then they have beaten Crewe, Sunderland, Bolton and the other surprise of the tournament, Exeter, to reach the semi finals.

Manchester City, meanwhile, will naturally go into the tie as hot favourites.

Currently third in the under 21s Premier League but only a point off top spot, they were magnificent at Leigh Sports Village last week.

Eye-catching frontman Jordy Hiwula scored four times as they overcame Blackburn 6-0. Incredibly, they hit six again just four days later against Sunderland - Hiwula notching another two goals.

City have beaten Stoke, West Brom and Newcastle to get to the semi finals.

Kick off is at 7pm, and tickets are £3, £1 concs. Manchester City season ticket holders go free. Turnstiles open at 6pm.

www.leighsportsvillage.co.uk

Ticket office: 01942 487888