Surprise mascot Jack was hoping for a few photos with his heroes as a memento of the trip but went home with Robinho’s jacket and Pablo Zabaleta’s shirt to the envy of his pals at Alkrington primary school in Middleton.
Dad Ian said: “We were standing there outside the ground when, out of the blue, Mark Hughes came over for a chat and then took us into training as his guests. We even stayed for the whole session when all the Press had to leave.
“City didn’t have a mascot for the game and suddenly, it was Jack. We had to get our friend Shaun to bring his shorts over on the day - he already had his shirt, of course. He was freezing on the night but he loved every minute.
“Dunny had to stop him going over to join the pre-match kick-about, he was so keen. His mum Lisa cried when he walked out, she was so proud of him. We sat behind the dug-out for the game, and Robby gave him his coat and Zaby his shirt.”
The season-ticket holding Nolans also went to Omonia and Schalke, but budding centre-half Jack’s first Blues match was at eight months - when he had his picture taken with Ali Benarbia and Darren Huckerby at Maine Road.
Nedum Onuoha, who claimed the opener in the 2-2 draw with Copenhagen, might want to put Jack on permanent standby: he was the official mascot last year against Tottenham ... when Nedum scored his only other senior goal for City.
