Young central defender Tom Lees heads up a posse of young players hoping to catch Simon Grayson's eye in Ireland this week.

The 18-year-old featured in Sunday's 3-3 draw at York and, along with Aidy White, Liam Darville and Tom Elliott, he will be aiming to impress during the club's short tour of the Emerald Isle.

The quartet have all been training with the first team - Aidy White and Tom Elliott have already played senior football - and for Tom and Liam it is a step up.

"On the first day of training, the young lads were a bit shy, but the senior players have been good and welcomed us in," he said.

"Hopefully we'll get to know the senior players more this week and settle in.

"It is a step up and you learn it won't wait for you. It's relentless. I've just tried to get my head down and get in among the lads.

"This is an opportunity, and we've got to show what we can do before the season starts.

"You've seen young lads come through here and play a lot of games so if the opportunity arises you have to grab it."

All the young players equipped themselves well at York during Sunday's game - Andy Milne and Mike Whitwell bagged their first senior goals - and Tom says there is a noticeable difference between senior football and reserve/youth football.

"You have fans there and you're playing with experienced players," he said.

"The pace is different, you have to be sharper and more aware.

"It was a learning experience, but the lads really helped me out. It was good to get my first run-out."

See more from Ireland, exclusively on LUTV...