Manchester City‘s teenage striker Liam Delap targets full fitness and following in on Phil Foden’s footsteps at the Etihad.
The 18-year-old striker was a mainstay of City’s superb PL2 title triumph last season, finishing as both top scorer with 24 goals and being voted PL2 player of the season.
Having also made a big impact at senior level, memorably scoring on his first team City debut against Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup and making his Premier League debut, Delap had been hoping to kick-on again this term having signed a new contract in August.
However, an injury to his right ankle ligaments sustained in the summer derailed his start to the season – and then when the 18-year-old did make his comeback, he was laid low by a separate problem with his left ankle.
But having put in some painstaking rehabilitation over the past few months and made a return to training, Delap is now eager to get back out on the pitch.
It was a frustrating time for Delap as he has spent rehab watching close mates from the youth ranks Cole Palmer and James McAtee make headlines at first team level and he admits that he wants another taste of life at City’s top table.
“It’s been a tough four months,” he admitted. “It isn’t so bad midweek but when the games come around it’s so frustrating. I just want to be out there.
“I’ve managed to focus and work hard and importantly not rush things. I am still so young and had to make sure the injuries healed properly so there are no issues later in my career. Patience has obviously been key. You get so well looked after at City that the rehab doesn’t feel like a chore.
“It has been a lot of fun watching James and Cole break through and get minutes in first team games. We are all great mates from the youth team and it would be great to one day play alongside them in the Premier League. I am sure the fans would love that too. Phil Foden has really set the bar high for current academy players graduating.”
This Delap’s comments were shared on Twitter by City Xtra and it attracted plenty of attention from the club’s supporters.
Your time is coming. https://t.co/N6MbzgFaZr
— ash.bwlm.🇬🇾⭐️ (@anathalab) February 2, 2022
It’s just a matter of time https://t.co/dxT6mfd6Bm
— Diboreyom Mohammed Hadi (@hadimohammed49) February 2, 2022
One day all four of them will be starting champions league games for us🤞
— Dishonest Penchester United Fan (@dracoknowsball) February 2, 2022
Delap at Striker
Phil and Palmer on the wings
Mcatee in midfield💙🔥 https://t.co/Elmx2RzCAJ— Albert Aguero (@AlbertAguero9) February 2, 2022
A front 3 or 4 of
Foden-Delap-Palmer
McateeIs ideal if they’re all great, high level players in the future. It would be insane to watch https://t.co/17rKJ7aff0
— #7👑 (@MCFCHag) February 2, 2022
Since he’s staying in the team and not going on loan he can get some minutes which is good
— Rocker-Cat (@KopatychInMood) February 2, 2022
Our time will come pic.twitter.com/xNPyEAcvGT
— Moses Onduso (@MosesOnduso5) February 2, 2022
Foden is the biggest name to emerge from City’s academy since its multi-million-pound renovation under the club’s current owners, with the 21-year-old a full international and a talent the Manchester Evening News labelled as ‘generational’.
And now, other players are starting to emerge from the academy. As well as Delap, the likes of Cole Palmer and James McAtee have played regularly for Pep Guardiola’s side, with the former bagging three goals in all competitions at first-team level.
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