Few clubs in the country are better placed than City to absorb any ‘grow your own’ quota imposed on English sides by football’s ruling bodies.
Further proof of that came on Saturday night in Egypt when no fewer than five young Blues’ Academy graduates were selected to start the under 20 World Cup tie with Uruguay.
Defenders Ben Mee and Kieran Trippier, midfielders Adam Clayton and Paul Marshall and striker Alex Nimley made up almost half of the England side and just for good measure Andrew Tutte was on the bench.
Unfortunately for the boys they succumbed to an 84th minute goal from substitute Tabare Viudez and now face an uphill struggle to qualify out of Group D.
In all likelihood they will have to beat both Ghana and Uzbekistan to move into the next phase. They face the former on Tuesday night and the latter in October 2. Ghana have already beaten the Uzbeks 2-1.
