Lifelong Blue Foden excelled at youth level before graduating into the first-team.
He joined City at Under-9 level and now, aged just 22, he has won four Premier Leagues, four Carabao Cups, an FA Cup and two Community Shields.
Lewis and Palmer have trod the same path as Foden – and both are now members of Pep Guardiola’s squad.
Our No.82 right-back has progressed right through the academy since signing for us aged eight.
He made his debut for the Under-18s aged 15 and after progressing through to the EDS squad for the 2022/23 season, he impressed on this past summer’s tour to the United States.
He subsequently made his first team debut coming on as a substitute in our 4-0 Premier League win over Bournemouth in August and made his first senior start in November’s 3-1 Champions League win over Sevilla and made history by scoring, becoming the youngest player at 17 years and 346 days to find the target on his maiden Champions League start.
He was then handed his first Premier League start in December, impressing once again as City beat Leeds 3-1 at Elland Road.
Palmer, meanwhile, has been at City since Under-8 level.
He progressed through the age groups to captain the Under-18 side in the 2019/20 season, where he was in fine form to lead the team to league and cup glory.
He was rewarded by being invited to train with the first team during the Premier League restart after the halt for COVID.
The teenager made the bench on four occasions and remained with the squad at the start of the 2020/21 campaign.
Palmer made his first team debut in the Carabao Cup fourth-round tie against Burnley in September 2020 and scored his first senior goal for City in our Carabao Cup win over Wycombe in September 2021.
Only a foot injury hampered his progress during 2021/22, but he has been a regular member of the matchday squad throughout 2022/23, scoring the fifth goal this past weekend in the 6-0 FA Cup quarter-final victory over Burnley.
Foden is thrilled for the pair and says their involvement under Guardiola is testament to their quality and diligence.
He said: “There is no secret. I think you don’t just get into the City team without deserving it with this kind of manager.
“You have to show something and you have to work hard in training.
“The likes of Rico and Cole, they have worked extremely hard to get where they are now and to get the rewards they are getting.
“It is really nice to see because I know how they feel, I have been in their shoes before.
“It is nice for me to see academy players with me playing in the first team.”
Foden, who trains with the duo day-in and day-out, admits he’s happy to be a sounding board for them as they look to carve out a similar career to his.
He says he’s eager to give them the ‘right advice’ as they quiz him about the do’s and don’ts of being successful in the sky blue.
He added: “I have been through it before and I understand the situation they are in.
“Hopefully when I speak to them, I can give them the right advice.
“In this place it is all about working hard and you will get your rewards.”
