Noa Boutin and Marcus Daws have both continued to make excellent progress since joining the AFC Bournemouth academy ranks ahead of the start of last season.
Following an impressive first year with Alan Connell’s squad, the pair have been pivotal figures in the Cherries’ strong showing in this season’s EFL Youth Alliance.
WATCH THE UNDER-18S IN YOUTH CUP ACTION WITH OUR FREE STREAM TOMORROW.
Boutin and Daws also played their part as the Cherries set up Wednesday’s FA Youth Cup fourth-round clash against QPR by triumphing 2-0 at Exeter City in the third round last month.
Born in Paris, Boutin became the first French player to join the AFC Bournemouth academy ranks when he signed in the summer of 2020.
He spent his formative years with local club AC Boulogne-Billancourt and is now fluent in English having studied hard during his time with the Cherries.
Predominantly a left-back, Boutin has also been deployed as a left winger this season and has excelled in both positions.
Daws, who hit 18 goals for the under-18s last season, can operate as a left winger or a number ten and has already trained with Scott Parker’s first-team squad.
Raised in Somerset, he spent eight years on the books at Southampton before signing a two-year scholarship with the Cherries in August 2020.
During his time at Vitality Stadium, Daws, whose cousin Dylan Morgan plays for Swansea, has been invited to attend three training camps with Northern Ireland under-18s.
Boutin and Daws sat down with #afcb.co.uk for a light-hearted joint Q&A and were both in agreement that team-mate Michael Dacosta Gonzalez is easily the best-dressed member of Connell’s squad!
In which film would you like to play the leading role?
Marcus: Troy Bolton from High School Musical.
Noah: It’s a series rather than a film but I’d like to be in Money Heist.
Who’s going to win the Champions League?
Marcus: Manchester City.
Noah: PSG.
If you could swap with one other sportsperson, who would it be?
Marcus: Roger Federer.
Noah: Zinedine Zidane.
What’s your favourite takeaway?
Marcus: Chinese.
Noah: KFC.
Do you have any superstitions?
Marcus: I always put my right boot on first.
Noah: No.
Who is your all-time favourite player?
Marcus: Cristiano Ronaldo.
Noah: Cristiano Ronaldo.
Are you a gamer?
Marcus: Not really.
Noah: Yes, a lot. I play GTA.
Which soap would you like to appear in?
Marcus: Love Island.
Noah: Les Marseillais.
What did you make of Michael Dacosta Gonzalez’s first goal against Exeter?
Marcus: I took the corner so I was buzzing! We practice it in training quite a lot but it was supposed to go to Ben Winterburn but he nicked it so it was cheeky from him!
And his second goal?
Noah: It was a top goal. I was waiting for him to pass to me but he just shot. I was happy for him and it was a great celebration as well!
Do you have any pets?
Marcus: I’ve got a dog called Suzy.
Noah: I’ve got a cat, it’s my sister’s and it’s called Muffin.
Can you cook and what’s your favourite dish?
Marcus: Yes, I can cook and my favourite dish is a plain omelette.
Noah: I can cook. Pasta and rice are my specialities.
NBA or NFL?
Marcus: NBA.
Noah: NBA.
What was your favourite subject at school?
Marcus: PE.
Noah: History.
What’s the best achievement of your career so far?
Marcus: Getting my scholarship here.
Noah: Being signed by my first professional club.
Have you had any international recognition?
Marcus: I’ve had three call-ups to training camps with Northern Ireland.
Noah: No, maybe soon!
Do you play any other sports?
Marcus: I played a lot of tennis when I was younger.
Noah: I like playing basketball because my younger brother plays.
What are your hopes for this season?
Marcus: Hopefully win the EFL Youth Alliance, the Merit League and to go as far as possible in the FA Youth Cup.
Noah: Win the leagues and reach the quarter-final of the FA Youth Cup if not better.
Which of your team-mates has the worst dress sense?
Marcus: Ferdy Okoh or Owen Palmer.
Noah: Ferdy.
And the best?
Marcus: Michael Dacosta Gonzalez.
Noah: Ditto!
If you did Karaoke, which song would you sing?
Marcus: Wonderwall.
Noah: Ramenez la coupe a la maison, the France 2018 World Cup song.
Do you know much about Alan Connell’s playing career?
Marcus: He was at Swindon and Bradford and played against Jack Wilshere. He talks about some of the penalty shootouts he’s been involved in.
Noah: Not really, sorry gaffer!
Who is the best player in your position in the world?
Marcus: Phil Foden.
Noah: It’s between Andy Robertson at Liverpool and Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies.
Who has been the biggest influence on your career so far?
Marcus: My mum Leanne, my dad Matthew and my granddad Roger.
Noah: My mum Jolle.
The winners of Wednesday's game will earn a home fixture against either Leicester City or Crewe Alexandra in the fifth round. The Foxes host the Railwaymen on Friday 14th January.
