Penalty saves and PSG ultras: Meet the Aston Villa goalkeeper aiming to star in FA Youth Cup final

Proctor and his team-mates face Manchester City at Villa Park (kick-off 3pm) in front of a crowd which could top 20,000.

But the 18-year-old, Villa’s hero from their semi-final shoot-out win over Manchester United, believes he is well placed to handle the atmosphere having faced the fury of PSG’s Virage Auteuil last month.

Proctor was on the bench at the Parc des Princes for the Champions League quarter-final first leg and warmed up in front of the stadium’s home end, who initially appeared to confuse him and fellow back-up Robin Olsen for their Enemy No.1, Emi Martinez.

He told the Express & Star: “The crowd were mental. As soon as me and Robin Olsen went out and then Emi did, it got louder. It was a good experience.

“They didn’t stop singing the whole warm-up. But it was good because the environment was really loud, so it kind of prepared me for what we will get on Monday. 

“To have a snippet of that already. It should be like that on Monday. Having that practice I can just focus on my job and what I have to do.”

Proctor, who played as a defender in junior football before converting to goalkeeper before joining Villa from Peterborough aged 14, did a more than passable impression of Martinez when he saved two spot-kicks to earn the shoot-out win over United, booking the club’s second Youth Cup final appearance in four years.

He said: “When it goes to penalties, I always back myself. I am quite confident and I knew if I saved the first one there would be more to come. 

“I think I just had to back myself throughout and help the team get over the line.”

Martinez is an obvious influence and as Proctor explains, an approachable one.

“We have the best keeper in the world at the club and he is someone I always look up to,” he said. 

“Even when I am out there training, just seeing what he does and trying to take things out of his game, putting them into mine so hopefully one day I can be as good as he is.

“Whenever I ask him for things or what I need to do in different situations, he is always happy to help. 

“He tells me what I can do better. It is good to have someone there as a role model that I can always ask questions to and who is always helpful.”

Filip Marschall and Oliver Zych, the goalkeepers in the squad when Villa beat Liverpool 2-1 to win the Youth Cup for the fourth time in their history in 2021, are also mentors and have been passing on advice in the build-up to Monday.

“Talking to them recently, asking them how it was winning it and them telling us how amazing it was gives us that added motivation to give it our all and get the trophy back,” said Proctor.

“I can’t wait. The lads in there are prepared and ready to give what they have got. It is a big crowd for myself and the other players. 

“It is just about doing what we do best out on the pitch, sticking together. WIth the quality we have in the team, hopefully we can get over the line.”