CHERRIES under-18s will gain further experience during a three-day break to Italy where they will face two giants of Serie A.

Alan Connell's young guns will tomorrow meet AC Milan at the Rossoneri’s training ground before taking on Sampdoria in a second friendly on Friday.

Connell told the club website: “It was an idea I had earlier in the season and then after the Tottenham FA Youth Cup game where you look at the fact that we go from playing category three games every week to playing one of the best teams in the country.

“We want our players to have the best experiences possible and that includes playing top-quality opposition.

“I spoke to Richard Hughes, our first-team technical director, and with his links and contacts in Italy, we felt it would be a really beneficial trip. It’s a short trip, so it’s not about the training but about playing AC Milan and Sampdoria under-19s.

“We’re going to be full of 17 and 18-year-olds so it’s going to be a really big test for us with a different style of football from what we’re used to.

“The lads will also get that experience of going away as a group, going abroad. We’re only away from three nights so it’s action packed with two quality games but we’re all really looking forward to it.”