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Manchester City youngster Ryan McAidoo was the star of a 5-3 win for the Under-19s in the UEFA Youth League against Monaco
Manchester City gave out three debuts to academy players last month and there could be at least one more coming in October. Pep Guardiola will hope to have more senior stars fit for their Carabao Cup trip to Swansea in a few weeks but he will be encouraged that there are so many youngsters knocking on the door for involvement.
Divine Mukasa did not play for the Under-19s in their 5-3 Youth League win over Monaco on Wednesday afternoon - a recognition of his status in the first team squad. He has trained with them all season and could feature off the bench in what would be a Champions League bow in the evening.
City's kids still had more than enough for their Monaco counterparts though in a competition that the club are increasingly desperate to win. Mahamadou Sangare got a hat-trick and set up Ryan McAidoo for a terrific counter-attacking goal that showcased his exciting talent in front of the watching sporting director Hugo Viana.
The game belonged to McAidoo, who was unplayable on the right wing with his pace and trickery proving too much for the home defenders. He tormented them all afternoon, and after using his pace to run onto Sangare's perfect through ball in the second half he sidestepped the goalkeeper before sitting a defender down and booting the ball triumphantly into an empty net.
McAidoo is no stranger to Guardiola. The 17-year-old, who arrived from Chelsea last year, trained with the first team earlier this season when Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki were sidelined and was also on the bench for the Burnley match last weekend.
Performances like this will only send his stock higher. City closely observe their players who move up and down between the first and the youth team to see how they adapt to the different environments, and McAidoo seems to have flourished.
He has always had the ability to beat a man, but Monaco was one of his most complete performances for the intelligence of decisions taken with his impressive pace. He was involved in the first goal, set up the second and scored a sublime fourth.
That may or may not be enough to get him a first team debut soon, but he is impressing the right people. A second win in as many games for City puts them in a promising position in the Youth League, which will only provide more platforms to shine on.
With Jeremy Doku going from strength to strength under Guardiola, Savinho back in the team and Reigan Heskey making his debut at Huddersfield, City look well stocked for exciting wingers who can win matches with their goal contributions.
The more the academy can provide, the easier Viana's job will be.
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