Despite being just 17, Delap made a barn-storming senior debut for City last month, scoring a superb goal in our 2-1 Carabao Cup third round win over Bournemouth before then making his Premier League bow from the bench against Leicester.
Meanwhile, attacking midfielder Palmer, 18, was afforded his own debut in last week’s Carabao Cup fourth round win at Burnley and delivered a hugely impressive all-round display in our 3-0 win at Turf Moor.
With Tommy Doyle, Adrian Bernabe and Taylor Harwood-Bellis also featuring in the Bournemouth win and Felix Nmecha also amongst the youngsters who have been training with the first team, it has provided further evidence of the potential pathway on offer for City’s phalanx of talented youngsters.
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From his own perspective, EDS boss Marseca says the emergence of the likes of Delap and Palmer onto the first team stage will act as the ideal inspiration for his players in terms of their own development
“It’s a good thing for them to see their mates in the first team,” said the former Italian striker.
“It is extra motivation for everyone else when your mates join the first team – you realize that maybe one day it will be your moment and your day, so you need to be ready.
“But, first of all, the most important thing for all the lads is to work every day in the right way and to understand that to have the chance to be with the first team they need to be very professional and to be very intensive in training.
“For me, I’m very happy to work every day with them and I will be very happy in the future if I see I can be important for them in terms of helping them to improve.”
Marseca’s message is one that was echoed by EDS youngster Ben Knight, one of many who have made a fine start to the new season both in the PL2 and the EFL Trophy.
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The attacking midfielder said seeing the likes of Delap and Palmer make their senior City bows was both deserved and a huge source of inspiration for the rest of the EDS group.
“Everyone is so happy for Liam, I feel like he deserves it. He is obviously young; he is not even 18 yet and he puts himself about,” Knight declared.
“He is a big lad and keeps working hard and scoring goals, it will also nice when we have him as well because he can score a few more goals for us!
“Lads like Cole, Tommy and Felix deserve it as well. Since they have been with the first team training, they deserve it.
“Well done to them and hopefully more of us will be able to do it (make the step up).”
For his part, Maresca believes that Delap’s emergence is only further demonstration of his enormous potential.
However, the Italian cautioned that it was also important to remember that the teenage striker was still very young and continuing to learn and develop his game.
“I was very happy for Liam, for one of our players to be in the first team,” Marseca added.
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“Hopefully in this moment he can help the first team and score.
“He’s just 17 – he needs time to grow and to improve but right now he is doing the right things.
“Physically, he is already ready to compete against professional teams, but he needs time to work to grow and to improve himself.
“Absolutely he is a very exciting prospect.”
