Youngsters look to wing into first team

SPEEDY WIDE MEN HAVE SUCCESS IN ACADEMY

- By SIMON BAJKOWSKI

MANCHESTER City’s youngsters are always striving for the first team but in a way Pep Guardiola’ side are just catching up with the academy again.

In recent years the youth teams have enjoyed great success in their leagues with speedy, dribbling wingers despite the days of Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling seemingly long gone. Brahim Diaz was part of the senior squad for a while but Jadon Sancho, Carlos Borges, Rabbi Matondo, Sam Edozie, Dire Mebude and Joel Ndala are all among the wide forwards who have stood out at youth level without seriously looking like breaking into Guardiola's plans.

That hasn't stopped City’s academy from producing them though, and this particular profile of player appears to be back in fashion. Jeremy Doku is leading the charge for City accompanied by Savinho and Oscar Bobb and there is no shortage of players coming up behind them.

Reigan Heskey made his senior debut in the League Cup win at Huddersfield, 17-year-old Ryan McAidoo was on the bench for the Premier League game with Burnley and Christian Dunbar-McDonald is also catching the eye in the academy.

“We've got a really good group of wingers in this age group and the way the game is going at the moment with a lot of teams going man-for-man and pressing really aggressively these guys are going to be absolute gold dust in the next few years; said Under-21s coach Ben Wilkinson.

“For us, it’s really important we keep developing them and work on their toolbox as a winger on how to succeed today and more importantly when you're up against first team players.