Manchester City’s top 10 kids are bidding to find their way on to Pep Guardiola’s playlist.
Many of them will get their first spin on Thursday when the English champions take on Club America in Houston in the first of two games on a short tour of the USA.
And if they pass their tryouts, and impress in training, the best of the bunch could find themselves in Guardiola’s squad for the rest of the season.
For Cole Palmer, Liam Delap, and James McAtee the auditions are nothing new.
Palmer, 20, made his first team debut in September 2020 and has since featured in the Premier League and scored in a Champions League victory over Club Brugge.
His performances and potential are two of the reasons why City were comfortable letting experienced top internationals Gabriel Jesus (to Arsenal) and Raheem Sterling (Chelsea) leave this summer.
Palmer, like Phil Foden, has been at City since he was an eight-year-old and is expected to feature heavily in the first team this season.
McAtee and Delap, both 19, have also both been on Guardiola’s radar for some time and are permanent fixtures in first team training.
Midfielder McAtee has been linked to a loan move to Brighton this summer and has other clubs hovering expectantly. However, the youngster, who ironically made his Premier League debut for City as a substitute for pal Palmer in a win over Everton ten months ago, has signed a new deal and is happy to try to force his way into Guardiola’s thinking.
Delap, meanwhile, remains a target for former City captain Vincent Kompany, now manager at Burnley, with City mulling over a possible loan deal.
At least half a dozen other Championship sides have also enquired about his availability. Delap’s position is complicated further by the arrival of big money strikers Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez.
The seven other young hopefuls trying to catch the manager’s eye, and who will be given the opportunity, are Kayky, Luke Mbete, Josh Wilson-Esbrand, Oscar Bobb, Rico Lewis, Finley Burns and Ben Knight.
Central defender Mbete (18) has already made his first team debut in the League Cup and this summer agreed a three-year extension to his deal that keeps him at City until 2027.
Fellow centre-half Burns, who is 19 and an England international in several age groups, had a spell on loan at Swansea last season but is also part of City’s long-term planning.
Brazilian forward Kayky arrived at City from his boyhood club Fluminense for whom he scored in the Copa Libertadores as a 17-year-old. He cost City in the region of £7 million and last season featured in the FA Cup and made a Premier League debut against Norwich City. Now 19-years-old, Kayky will be given a chance to shine against stiff competition before next steps are decided.
Manchester City 2021/22 season ratings
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GOALKEEPERS: Ederson 8 - Won the coveted Premier League Golden Glove award after keeping 20 clean sheets this season. In a team full of pass masters, the Brazilian can hold his own against any of his outfield teammates. AP Photo -
Zack Steffen 5 - Usually an able deputy but his mistake against Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-final cost City the chance of a league-and-cup double. EPA -
DEFENDERS: Kyle Walker 8 - A one-man flank down City's right. Few posses the Englishman's pace and powers of recovery. His distribution has improved this campaign too. AFP -
Ruben Dias 6 - Failed to match last season's achievements when he was named player of the season. Found himself in and out of the side. AFP -
John Stones 7 - Showed his versatility by filling in at right-back on occasion and another solid season ends with a Premier League winner's medal. Getty Images -
Nathan Ake 6 - A much-improved season though still struggling to nail down a first-team place. Always committed and gives his all. AFP -
Oleksandr Zinchenko 7 - Emotional scenes at the Etihad as the Ukrainian draped his country's flag around the Premier League trophy. Underrated player who never grumbles about filling in at left-back despite being a midfielder by trade. Getty Images -
Aymeric Laporte 8 - After playing second fiddle to Dias last season, the Spaniard has re-emerged as one of the best centre-backs in the league this term. Reuters -
Joao Cancelo 9 - The Portuguese almost seems wasted at left-back, such is his passing ability and knack for supplying teammates during his forays forward. City's player of the season, for me. AFP -
MIDFIELDERS: Ilkay Gundogan 8 - When it looked as though the title was lost on the final day, the German midfielder came off the bench to drag City over the line with two of the most important goals of his career. Another excellent campaign. AFP -
Jack Grealish 6 - Hard to say the Englishman has justified his £100 million price tag, or that he has necessarily made City a better team. AFP -
Rodri 8 - The Spanish metronome just keeps City ticking. Popped up with some crucial goals as City won a fourth Premier League title in five seasons. AFP -
Kevin de Bruyne 9 - Another standout campaign from the brilliant Belgian. Fifteen-goals - including four in one match against Wolves - and eight assists despite missing eight league games. Will undoubtedly get a statue at the Etihad alongside Aguero, Kompany and Silva when he does call it a day. Getty Images -
Bernardo Silva 8 - The one player Guardiola can give any assignment to - whether at the base, on the wing or as a False 9 - knowing he will excel in that role. Getty Images -
Fernandinho 6 - Took Guardiola by surprise when he announced he will leave the club this summer. Second fiddle to Rodri now, but what a loyal servant the Brazilian has been. Getty Images -
Phil Foden 8 - Few players have the poise and grace of Foden. One of those players that can run with ball full speed. An absolute nightmare for defenders. Getty Images -
Cole Palmer 5 - No shame in finding minutes hard to come by with City's galaxy of midfield stars ahead of him. Getty Images -
Raheem Sterling 7 - A bit of a mixed bag for the English forward. A healthy goal return of 13 in the league but has looked leggy, with perhaps tiredness a factor having helped England reach the Euro 2020 final last summer. Getty Images -
Riyad Mahrez 7 - A hint of friction with his manager at times this season and has not always been first choice. Still contributed 11 league goals to City's victorious Premier League campaign. Getty Images -
Gabriel Jesus 7 - With record-scorer Sergio Aguero departing last summer, the scene looked set for the Brazilian to establish himself as undisputed first choice. That didn't happen, but Jesus is a workhorse whom Guardiola seems to love. Half of his eight league goals came in a single match against Watford. Getty Images -
MANAGER: Pep Guardiola 8 - Kept his troops focussed even when momentum looked to have shifted Liverpool's way. Will go down as one of the greatest managers in Premier League history. AP
Wilson-Esbrand, 19, is another to have tasted first team football though his progress has been hampered by injuries. The left back, who joined City from West Ham, made his first team debut in the League Cup and will be hoping for more minutes should Oleksandr Zinchenko leave this summer.
Norwegian Bobb, also 19, is a winger who has yet to make his first team debut but has developed alongside McAtee, Delap and Palmer in a prolific reserve team attack and City’s coaches have seen enough to give him his chance to step up.
Lewis is the youngest of those currently under Guardiola’s wing in the United States. The 17-year-old right back has been at City since he was eight-years-old and has always been seen as a precocious talent having made his debut for the under 18s as a 15-year-old. He captained them to the league title last term and was named player of the season.
Knight, a 20-year-old attacking midfielder or striker, has already tasted first team football for City at Wembley Stadium as a substitute in the Community Shield contest against Leicester City. He spent last season on loan at Crewe Alexandra but had his game time cut short by two lengthy injuries.
With City having left behind Aymeric Laporte, Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden and John Stones, all ten hopefuls – but especially the defenders – could find themselves sharing the pitch with the established stars in the two game tour that also sees City face Bayern Munich in Green Bay on Sunday before they fly home and prepare to face Liverpool in the Community Shield on July 30.
Gallery: Haaland unveiled at the Etihad
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Manchester City striker Erling Haaland on stage during the presentation of the club's new signings on Sunday, July 10, 2022. EPA -
Stefan Ortega, Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez of Manchester City wearing their new shirts. Getty -
Manchester City's Erling Braut Haaland throws a small football signed by him into the crowd. Reuters -
New Manchester City signing Erling Haaland at the Etihad Stadium. AP -
Manchester City fans during the unveilings. Reuters -
City new boy Julian Alvarez acknowledges the fans during at the Etihad Stadium. Getty -
Stefan Ortega, Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez of Manchester City throw shirts to the fans. Getty -
New Manchester City signing Erling Haaland during the presentation. PA -
Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez during the presentation. AP -
Fans at the Etihad Stadium waching Manchester City's new signings being presented. EPA -
Norwegian forward Erling Haaland is presented on stage. EPA -
Manchester City's Erling Haaland outside the Etihad. AP -
Manchester City's Stefan Ortega Moreno waves to fans. AP
