Young Baggies are urged to rise to the challenge in cup showdown

The Baggies youngsters make the short journey to Villa Park to face their rivals for the right to play Liverpool in the final.

Having already beaten Tottenham and Everton to reach this stage, Albion are aiming to go one step better than two years ago when they were knocked out in the last four by Manchester City.

Gilbert said: “It’s all about embracing the occasion. Getting this far has been an outstanding achievement for our academy. Being able to work with the players we’ve had this season has given us a lot of joy and fantastic moments that we won’t forget.

“You always learn from your previous experiences and I’ve taken some things on board that I would have done differently in 2019.”

Villa enter the game as favourites having netted 15 goals combined in beating Burton and Newcastle in the last two rounds.

In addition to the traditional rivalry between the two clubs, there is the added spice of several members of Albion’s academy having moved to Villa in recent years, among them Mark Harrison, who now heads up youth football at Bodymoor Heath.

Gilbert said: “The local derby factor adds a little bit extra to the game and Villa are a big club with lots of investment. But our boys are at this stage on merit.”