The task of a promising academy player is far from easy – requiring linear progression in a sport that offers plenty of annual setbacks and hurdles.
However, in the case of Jes Rak-Sakyi, his rapid development has been a textbook rise from an under-18 prospect on arrival from Chelsea to an U21 standout and an on-loan League One goal threat for Charlton Athletic last season.
Entering a summer with numerous Championship suitors for his second loan move, Rak-Sakyi was - right through to the deadline - set to be the first 'homegrown' loanee to that division since 2016.
As a club battling against the best academies at junior levels on a seasonal basis, Palace lack the pipeline for players moving from being 'promising' to a viable Premier League option – which often requires a steady flow of EFL minutes and successful loan moves.
So, given his journey to date, it's with great frustration that his future has been put on hold because of the Eagles' inaction in the transfer window, leaving him as a first-team substitute option.
It isn't as though the fans expect him to gain minutes in the Premier League this season either, as even the best players in the first team - Eberechi Eze or Michael Olise - did their apprenticeships at a lower level first.
By the end of September last season, Rak-Sakyi had 557 minutes in League One. He has 10 minutes so far this term - though should gain time in cup fixtures.
Even with an optimistic outlook, and though there is still time for the winger to earn minutes between now and the January transfer window, a returning Olise will naturally take priority in his position.
Crystal Palace will need to be sure to rectify their mistake come January to ensure this isn't a lost season for one of their brightest attacking talents.
Big night for Dean Henderson
Man Utd v Crystal Palace (20:00 BST)
Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Old Trafford
Dean Henderson has had to wait for his Crystal Palace debut - but he gets it tonight against his former club.
Palace signed Henderson in a £20m deal on 31 August but Sam Johnstone has kept him out of Roy Hodgson's side until now.
Henderson evidently felt he should have been Manchester United's first choice.
With Andre Onana in a strong-looking hosts line-up, comparisons will be fairly easy.
Amrabat makes first start among Man Utd changes
Man Utd v Crystal Palace (20:00 BST)
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has named seven changes after his side ended a three-match losing run with a 1-0 win over Burnley on Saturday night.
Sofyan Amrabat makes his first start for the club since joining on loan from Fiorentina, while fellow summer signing Mason Mount returns to the starting XI.
There's also a start for Harry Maguire in central defence, alongside Raphael Varane.
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has made eight changes for the trip to Old Trafford, with goalkeeper Dean Henderson starting against his former club.
No side in the Championship has scored more goals this season than Ipswich Town's 17 in eight matchesImage caption: No side in the Championship has scored more goals this season than Ipswich Town's 17 in eight matches
Ipswich Town assistant manager Martyn Pert said it would be good to gauge his club’s progress against a top-flight side.
Town have won seven of their first eight games back in the Championship after winning promotion from League One last season and play at home against Premier League Wolves.
Pert told a news conference: “Whatever team Wolves put out will be a good team. Look at their bench against Luton on the weekend.
“It will be a really tough game, but we are looking forward to seeing how we cope with the challenge.
“Obviously we’re in a good bit of form in terms of results. We can really go and attack a tie against a Premier League team that has a number of really good offensive players.
“It should be a real test for us and is something the fans should look forward to.”
Exeter City boss Gary Caldwell is determined to give Luton a stern test – no matter what side the Premier League team field at St James Park.
“We are definitely underdogs because we are playing a Premier League team,” Caldwell said on the club’s website.
“We have to put pressure on ourselves to perform and be the best we can be. This will be no different – the main thing is we focus on ourselves.”
Pressure part of Man Utd life
Man Utd v Crystal Palace (20:00 BST)
Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Old Trafford
When they lifted this trophy in February, Manchester United thought it was going to be the start of a glorious new era.
Instead, they have ended up back in crisis mode after a string of issues on and off the field for manager Erik ten Hag to contend with.
In his programme notes, Ten Hag has adopted a philosophical attitude.
"Pressure is part of life at Manchester United, for everyone involved in the club," he said.
"The demands are never easy because the expectations are so high and everybody is watching.
"But you don't wear this crest to have an easy life, you wear it because you are capable of handling the responsibility."
Team news
Salford v Burnley (19:45 BST)
Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport at Peninsula Stadium
Salford make four changes from the weekend with Matty Lund and Kevin Berkoe coming back from suspension and Marcus Dackers and Tosin Olopade also coming in.
Irish youngster Olopade, who was released by Burnley in the summer, makes his first start for the Ammies.
For the most part, Manchester United played some of their best football post-Sir Alex Ferguson under the reign of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. It’s a myth that he was tactically inept.
But there was a consistent criticism suggesting that Solskjaer overly-relied on 'individual brilliance'. That was the oh-so common term flung around between pundits and fans alike.
While that was true in instances, it wasn’t an outstanding issue. The same potentially can’t be said anymore under Erik ten Hag.
United ended a three-match losing streak at Burnley on Sunday - a much-needed triumph. That said, was it convincing? Like the wins over Wolves and Nottingham Forest… it wasn’t.
Burnley dominated possession for the most part - and were missing their first-choice striker, Lyle Foster. What bailed United out? You guessed it... 'individual brilliance' from Bruno Fernandes.
I sympathise with Ten Hag. He said last week that he’d barely had his strongest XI since his arrival. You couldn’t disagree. But United need to show progress soon.
Four successive home games await before the international break. All winnable. It’s time to start building on his successful first year in M16 and showcase the identity he is trying so hard to mould.
Family fortunes
Mansfield Town v Peterborough United (19:45 BST)
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Mansfield Town are third in League Two and beat Grimsby Town 2-0 in the first round before causing a shock in round two by eliminating Championship Sheffield Wednesday 5-4 on penalties away from home after it had finished 1-1 at 90 minutes.
Peterborough United, eighth in League One, have twice needed shootouts - to see off Swindon Town and then Portsmouth.
Mansfield are managed by Nigel Clough, whose dad Brian won the League Cup on four occasions in charge of Nottingham Forest.
Meanwhile, Peterborough's manager, Darren Ferguson, is the son of Sir Alex Ferguson, a four-time League Cup winner when Manchester United boss.
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
'I think they're a team to watch now'
Exeter v Luton (19:45 BST)
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
It has been a tough start to life in the Premier League for Luton and they remain winless after five games.
However, after they claimed their first point of the season against Wolves on Saturday, Andros Townsend - speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club - believes things could be looking up for Rob Edwards' side.
"If you watched Luton in their last game, they changed their formation slightly to a 3-4-3 and they looked a lot better," Townsend said
"They got a lot more crosses into the box and had a lot more joy in wide areas.
"So I think they're a team to watch now. Maybe they can go on a run, start believing in themselves and start to pick up more points."
They travel to League One Exeter tonight in search of a morale-boosting win.
Wolves aim to stop Ipswich reaching round four for first time since 2010-11
Ipswich Town v Wolves (19:45 BST)
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Matt Doherty scored twice in Wolves' 5-0 win over Blackpool in round twoImage caption: Matt Doherty scored twice in Wolves' 5-0 win over Blackpool in round two
Ipswich Town matched their best League Cup run in 2010-11 when they reached the semi-finals, but lost 3-1 to Arsenal on aggregate after winning the home leg 1-0.
But, before this season, they had only won five times in the competition since then and never made it beyond the third round.
However, Kieran McKenna's side have a chance to do that tonight after wins over Bristol Rovers and Reading in the opening two rounds while Wolves, two-time tournament winners, thumped Blackpool 5-0 in the last round.
The next stage of Salford’s growth
Salford v Burnley (19:45 BST)
Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport at Peninsula Stadium
It’s fair to say things have changed at Salford City since my first visit here in 2013.
It was before the Class of 92 takeover, when they were in the eighth tier and (whisper it) used to play in orange and not red.
Since that high-profile takeover they have shot through the divisions and established themselves as an EFL team.
But today is another landmark, the first time they have ever hosted top-flight opposition in a competitive game.
Both sides are on shocking runs of form though. Salford have lost five in a row while Burnley have only won once all season.
BBC SportCopyright: BBC Sport
In 2013. I think I was using a potato for a phone thenImage caption: In 2013. I think I was using a potato for a phone then
BBC SportCopyright: BBC Sport
When I took this picture 10 years ago I never expected to actually put it on the BBC website one dayImage caption: When I took this picture 10 years ago I never expected to actually put it on the BBC website one day
BBCCopyright: BBC
And todayImage caption: And today
BBC SportCopyright: BBC Sport
Also todayImage caption: Also today
First meeting
Salford v Burnley (19:45 BST)
There's not that far between them geographically, but it's the first ever meeting on the pitch between Salford and Burnley tonight in competitive competition.
They come together with one in League Two and the other back in the big time. Saying that, neither have had what you'd call a cracking start.
Salford are 21st in the fourth tier and come into this off the back of five straight losses. They conceded at least two in each of their last four games.
Burnley have just one point to show for their efforts in the Premier League, albeit with a stinking run of fixtures to start their campaign.
Don't write it off
Port Vale v Sutton (19:45 BST)
With all due respect to Port Vale and to Sutton, this is probably the runt of tonight's Carabao Cup litter. It's gonna have to do an awful lot to muscle in for some attention.
But let's not write it off. Sometimes great things come in small packages.
This is a clash between League One (Vale) and League Two (Sutton) and it sees the Valiants in the third round for the first time since the 2009-10 season, while the visitors are enjoying their best-ever run in the competition.
So, for both these sides this is a big deal and one that could lead to a game with one of the big boys.
Current standings
Seventeen of the 32 teams left in the competition are from the Premier League (Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United have been eliminated) and this is how it stands in the top flight.
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Elsewhere, seven teams are from the Championship, with four apiece from League One and League Two.
These are those sides with their league positions.
Championship: 1. Leicester City, 2. Ipswich Town, 7. Cardiff City, 8. Norwich City, 14, Blackburn Rovers, 20. Stoke City, 22. Middlesbrough.
League One: 4. Port Vale, 6. Exeter City, 8. Peterborough United, 13. Lincoln City.
League Two: 3. Mansfield Town, 11. Bradford City, 21. Salford City, 24. Sutton United
Third-round matches
Here is the full list of third-round matches...
.Copyright: .
The top seven are the ones taking place tonight.
Super Tuesday
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
What else were you planning on doing with your Tuesday night, eh?
Yes, the football just keeps coming. And tonight we get to dive headlong back into the Carabao Cup.
We've got seven third-round ties tonight, featuring five Premier League sides and three more who used to be in the top flight.
Live Reporting
Phil Dawkes, Michael Emons and Sam Drury
All times stated are UK
'Great frustration' Rak-Sakyi future put on hold
Man Utd v Crystal Palace (20:00 BST)
Alex Pewter, FYP podcast
The task of a promising academy player is far from easy – requiring linear progression in a sport that offers plenty of annual setbacks and hurdles.
However, in the case of Jes Rak-Sakyi, his rapid development has been a textbook rise from an under-18 prospect on arrival from Chelsea to an U21 standout and an on-loan League One goal threat for Charlton Athletic last season.
Entering a summer with numerous Championship suitors for his second loan move, Rak-Sakyi was - right through to the deadline - set to be the first 'homegrown' loanee to that division since 2016.
As a club battling against the best academies at junior levels on a seasonal basis, Palace lack the pipeline for players moving from being 'promising' to a viable Premier League option – which often requires a steady flow of EFL minutes and successful loan moves.
So, given his journey to date, it's with great frustration that his future has been put on hold because of the Eagles' inaction in the transfer window, leaving him as a first-team substitute option.
It isn't as though the fans expect him to gain minutes in the Premier League this season either, as even the best players in the first team - Eberechi Eze or Michael Olise - did their apprenticeships at a lower level first.
By the end of September last season, Rak-Sakyi had 557 minutes in League One. He has 10 minutes so far this term - though should gain time in cup fixtures.
Even with an optimistic outlook, and though there is still time for the winger to earn minutes between now and the January transfer window, a returning Olise will naturally take priority in his position.
Crystal Palace will need to be sure to rectify their mistake come January to ensure this isn't a lost season for one of their brightest attacking talents.
Big night for Dean Henderson
Man Utd v Crystal Palace (20:00 BST)
Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Old Trafford
Dean Henderson has had to wait for his Crystal Palace debut - but he gets it tonight against his former club.
Palace signed Henderson in a £20m deal on 31 August but Sam Johnstone has kept him out of Roy Hodgson's side until now.
Henderson evidently felt he should have been Manchester United's first choice.
With Andre Onana in a strong-looking hosts line-up, comparisons will be fairly easy.
Amrabat makes first start among Man Utd changes
Man Utd v Crystal Palace (20:00 BST)
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has named seven changes after his side ended a three-match losing run with a 1-0 win over Burnley on Saturday night.
Sofyan Amrabat makes his first start for the club since joining on loan from Fiorentina, while fellow summer signing Mason Mount returns to the starting XI.
There's also a start for Harry Maguire in central defence, alongside Raphael Varane.
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has made eight changes for the trip to Old Trafford, with goalkeeper Dean Henderson starting against his former club.
Man Utd XI: Onana, Dalot, Maguire, Varane, Amrabat, Casemiro, Mount, Mejbri, Garnacho, Pellistri, Martial.
Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Clyne, Holding, Richards, Mitchell, Doucoure, Riedewald, Schlupp, Rak-Sakyi, Ayew, Mateta.
'Something the fans should look forward to'
Ipswich Town v Wolves (19:45 BST)
Ipswich Town assistant manager Martyn Pert said it would be good to gauge his club’s progress against a top-flight side.
Town have won seven of their first eight games back in the Championship after winning promotion from League One last season and play at home against Premier League Wolves.
Pert told a news conference: “Whatever team Wolves put out will be a good team. Look at their bench against Luton on the weekend.
“It will be a really tough game, but we are looking forward to seeing how we cope with the challenge.
“Obviously we’re in a good bit of form in terms of results. We can really go and attack a tie against a Premier League team that has a number of really good offensive players.
“It should be a real test for us and is something the fans should look forward to.”
Team news
Bradford v Middlesbrough (19:45 BST)
Bradford XI: Lewis, Halliday, Ridehaigh, Platt, Walker, Cook, Gilliead, Oduor, Stubbs, Oyegoke, Afoka.
Middlesbrough XI: Glover, Smith, Barlaser, Fry, Hackney, McGree, Latte Lath, Rogers, McNair, Silvera, O’Brien.
'Main thing is we focus on ourselves'
Exeter City v Luton Town (19:45 BST)
Exeter City boss Gary Caldwell is determined to give Luton a stern test – no matter what side the Premier League team field at St James Park.
“We are definitely underdogs because we are playing a Premier League team,” Caldwell said on the club’s website.
“We have to put pressure on ourselves to perform and be the best we can be. This will be no different – the main thing is we focus on ourselves.”
Pressure part of Man Utd life
Man Utd v Crystal Palace (20:00 BST)
Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Old Trafford
When they lifted this trophy in February, Manchester United thought it was going to be the start of a glorious new era.
Instead, they have ended up back in crisis mode after a string of issues on and off the field for manager Erik ten Hag to contend with.
In his programme notes, Ten Hag has adopted a philosophical attitude.
"Pressure is part of life at Manchester United, for everyone involved in the club," he said.
"The demands are never easy because the expectations are so high and everybody is watching.
"But you don't wear this crest to have an easy life, you wear it because you are capable of handling the responsibility."
Team news
Salford v Burnley (19:45 BST)
Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport at Peninsula Stadium
Salford make four changes from the weekend with Matty Lund and Kevin Berkoe coming back from suspension and Marcus Dackers and Tosin Olopade also coming in.
Irish youngster Olopade, who was released by Burnley in the summer, makes his first start for the Ammies.
Salford XI: Cairns, Mariappa, Watt, Watson, Lund, Mallan, Tilt, McAleny, Berkoe, Dackers, Olopade.
Burnley make a full sweep of changes, 11 in total. It's a first start for French teenager Wilson Odobert.
Burnley XI: Muric, Vitinho, O'Shea, Delcroix, Cork, Berge, Zaroury, Bruun Larsen, Benson, Rodriguez, Odobert.
Team news - Luton makes 10 changes
Exeter v Luton (19:45 BST)
Exeter boss Gary Caldwell makes five changes to the side beaten 3-0 by Oxford on Saturday.
Jack Fitzwater, Rekeem Harper, Kyle Taylor, Caleb Watts and James Scott come into the starting line-up.
Exeter XI: Sinisalo, Aimson, Hartridge, Fitzwater, Mitchell, Harper, Carroll, Jules, Taylor, Watts, Scott.
Subs: Woods, Sweeney, Beardmore, Kite, Cole, Richards, Borges, Wildschut, Cox.
Alfie Doughty is the only starter to keep his place for Luton as Rob Edwards makes 10 changes from the draw with Wolves.
Luton XI: Krul, Doughty, Andersen, Mengi, Johnson, Giles, Mpanzu, Berry, Chong, Woodrow, Adebayo.
Subs: Shea, Ogbene, Morris, Kabore, Burke, Brown, Bell, Burger, Luker.
Wolves make 10 changes against ipswich
Ipswich Town v Wolves (19:45 BST)
Wolves boss Gary O'Neill has made 10 changes for tonight's trip to Championship high-flyers Ipswich Town.
Only Hwang Hee-chan keeps his place from the side which started the 1-1 draw with Luton Town on Saturday.
Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has also heavily rotated, with his side joint top of the Championship.
Ipswich Town XI: Hladky, Ball, Edmundson, Baggott, Williams, Evans, Taylor Jackson, Harness, Hutchinson, Ladapo.
Wolves XI: Bentley, Jonny, S Bueno, Toti, H Bueno, Traore, Doyle, Sarabia, Kalajdzic, Hwang.
'It's time for Ten Hag to showcase the identity he is trying so hard to mould'
Man Utd v Crystal Palace (20:00 BST)
Alex Turk, Stretford Paddock
For the most part, Manchester United played some of their best football post-Sir Alex Ferguson under the reign of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. It’s a myth that he was tactically inept.
But there was a consistent criticism suggesting that Solskjaer overly-relied on 'individual brilliance'. That was the oh-so common term flung around between pundits and fans alike.
While that was true in instances, it wasn’t an outstanding issue. The same potentially can’t be said anymore under Erik ten Hag.
United ended a three-match losing streak at Burnley on Sunday - a much-needed triumph. That said, was it convincing? Like the wins over Wolves and Nottingham Forest… it wasn’t.
Burnley dominated possession for the most part - and were missing their first-choice striker, Lyle Foster. What bailed United out? You guessed it... 'individual brilliance' from Bruno Fernandes.
I sympathise with Ten Hag. He said last week that he’d barely had his strongest XI since his arrival. You couldn’t disagree. But United need to show progress soon.
Four successive home games await before the international break. All winnable. It’s time to start building on his successful first year in M16 and showcase the identity he is trying so hard to mould.
Family fortunes
Mansfield Town v Peterborough United (19:45 BST)
Mansfield Town are third in League Two and beat Grimsby Town 2-0 in the first round before causing a shock in round two by eliminating Championship Sheffield Wednesday 5-4 on penalties away from home after it had finished 1-1 at 90 minutes.
Peterborough United, eighth in League One, have twice needed shootouts - to see off Swindon Town and then Portsmouth.
Mansfield are managed by Nigel Clough, whose dad Brian won the League Cup on four occasions in charge of Nottingham Forest.
Meanwhile, Peterborough's manager, Darren Ferguson, is the son of Sir Alex Ferguson, a four-time League Cup winner when Manchester United boss.
'I think they're a team to watch now'
Exeter v Luton (19:45 BST)
It has been a tough start to life in the Premier League for Luton and they remain winless after five games.
However, after they claimed their first point of the season against Wolves on Saturday, Andros Townsend - speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club - believes things could be looking up for Rob Edwards' side.
"If you watched Luton in their last game, they changed their formation slightly to a 3-4-3 and they looked a lot better," Townsend said
"They got a lot more crosses into the box and had a lot more joy in wide areas.
"So I think they're a team to watch now. Maybe they can go on a run, start believing in themselves and start to pick up more points."
They travel to League One Exeter tonight in search of a morale-boosting win.
Listen to the full Monday Night Club episode on BBC Sounds.
Wolves aim to stop Ipswich reaching round four for first time since 2010-11
Ipswich Town v Wolves (19:45 BST)
Ipswich Town matched their best League Cup run in 2010-11 when they reached the semi-finals, but lost 3-1 to Arsenal on aggregate after winning the home leg 1-0.
But, before this season, they had only won five times in the competition since then and never made it beyond the third round.
However, Kieran McKenna's side have a chance to do that tonight after wins over Bristol Rovers and Reading in the opening two rounds while Wolves, two-time tournament winners, thumped Blackpool 5-0 in the last round.
The next stage of Salford’s growth
Salford v Burnley (19:45 BST)
Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport at Peninsula Stadium
It’s fair to say things have changed at Salford City since my first visit here in 2013.
It was before the Class of 92 takeover, when they were in the eighth tier and (whisper it) used to play in orange and not red.
Since that high-profile takeover they have shot through the divisions and established themselves as an EFL team.
But today is another landmark, the first time they have ever hosted top-flight opposition in a competitive game.
Both sides are on shocking runs of form though. Salford have lost five in a row while Burnley have only won once all season.
First meeting
Salford v Burnley (19:45 BST)
There's not that far between them geographically, but it's the first ever meeting on the pitch between Salford and Burnley tonight in competitive competition.
They come together with one in League Two and the other back in the big time. Saying that, neither have had what you'd call a cracking start.
Salford are 21st in the fourth tier and come into this off the back of five straight losses. They conceded at least two in each of their last four games.
Burnley have just one point to show for their efforts in the Premier League, albeit with a stinking run of fixtures to start their campaign.
Don't write it off
Port Vale v Sutton (19:45 BST)
With all due respect to Port Vale and to Sutton, this is probably the runt of tonight's Carabao Cup litter. It's gonna have to do an awful lot to muscle in for some attention.
But let's not write it off. Sometimes great things come in small packages.
This is a clash between League One (Vale) and League Two (Sutton) and it sees the Valiants in the third round for the first time since the 2009-10 season, while the visitors are enjoying their best-ever run in the competition.
So, for both these sides this is a big deal and one that could lead to a game with one of the big boys.
Current standings
Seventeen of the 32 teams left in the competition are from the Premier League (Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United have been eliminated) and this is how it stands in the top flight.
Elsewhere, seven teams are from the Championship, with four apiece from League One and League Two.
These are those sides with their league positions.
Championship: 1. Leicester City, 2. Ipswich Town, 7. Cardiff City, 8. Norwich City, 14, Blackburn Rovers, 20. Stoke City, 22. Middlesbrough.
League One: 4. Port Vale, 6. Exeter City, 8. Peterborough United, 13. Lincoln City.
League Two: 3. Mansfield Town, 11. Bradford City, 21. Salford City, 24. Sutton United
Third-round matches
Here is the full list of third-round matches...
The top seven are the ones taking place tonight.
Super Tuesday
What else were you planning on doing with your Tuesday night, eh?
Yes, the football just keeps coming. And tonight we get to dive headlong back into the Carabao Cup.
We've got seven third-round ties tonight, featuring five Premier League sides and three more who used to be in the top flight.
It doesn't get any bigger!*
*It does.