City EDS return to Manchester for their second match of the week on Friday when they take on Stoke City at Hyde FC’s Ewen Fields.

In their previous encounter, Attilio Lombardo’s men secured a dramatic passage to the quarter-finals of the Lancashire Senior Cup with a 6-5 penalty shootout win over Blackpool.

Jose Angel Pozo hit City’s goal in the 1-1 draw that preceded the spot-kicks, the fifth consecutive game the Spanish forward has scored in.

He’s likely to figure in this league clash, possibly alongside John Guidetti as the Blues look to consign Stoke to a third consecutive league defeat.

Although it’s still early days in Phase 2 of National Group 2 of the Barclays U21 Premier League, City are ideally placed, aware that a win on Friday night will catapult them to the top of the table.

Denis Suarez is also in line to return to the XI after playing for Spain u20s in their narrow defeat to Real Madrid B this week.

City can consider themselves unlucky to have dropped two points in the 3-3 draw with Bolton last time out in the league, but will take heart from the fluid, attacking football they managed to produce.

With places up for grabs in next Tuesday’s FA Youth Cup fifth round clash against Derby County at Pride Park, it promises to be another competitive and exciting night down at Hyde FC.

Entry is available at the gate for the match, priced at £3 for adults and £1 for concessions for this 7pm kick-off.

We’ll let you know how the Blues get on here on mcfc.co.uk.