Half way through the latest international break and I thought it would be timely to have a look around at where some of our…perhaps lesser-known players are; those who have been brought through our youth system and those whom we’ve signed both-recently as well as quite a few seasons ago.
Starting with goalkeepers and defenders in this part; the list does not include every player - there’s a large number of very talented players not listed who are currently playing for our Academy and EDS sides…
Goalkeepers
The 6’ 6” stopper - who can include a not-so-successful loan spell at Nottingham Forest as one of 5 teams he’s been ‘shipped out’ to since signing for City in July 2017 - is currently on loan to Turkish club, Adana Demirspor for the rest of the season.
The Oldham born keeper has dual nationality of both Scottish & English and has represented Scotland at under-17 level. With other keepers out on loan – and much to his credit also, of course – Cieran finds himself our main EDS “No.1”. A highly thought of goalkeeper, the 19-year-old recently found himself on the first team bench in the Champions League as one of two keepers on the side, alongside Scott Carson while Zack Steffen was isolating after contracting Covid-19.
The highly rated Irish, 19-year-old has amassed a lot of experience for his age beyond EDS involvement. He made 29 appearances on loan at Rochdale last season and although his efforts couldn’t prevent The Dale from being relegated; reports about Gavin were very good indeed. This season, he finds himself on loan once more and playing in League One once again but, this time, 258 miles or so south at Portsmouth, where he’s made 10 league appearances so far. Furthermore, Bazunu seems to have established himself as the Republic of Ireland’s No.1; making 7 appearances to date and making a very fine save indeed against Azerbaijan last night. I think this one has a bright future ahead of him…
Signed from FC Utrecht’s Under-17s in July 2020, the 17-year-old is registered with our EDS and is currently back-up to Cieran Slicker.
Defenders
Conrad Egan-Riley: Defender – Right / Centre
An 18-year-old central defender who can operate as a right-back if needed. An EDS regular who recently made his first team debut in the League Cup against Wycombe Wanderers.
Erik Palmer-Brown: Defender - Centre
A 24-year-old, USA-born central defender who has been loaned out 4 times since signing for City in January 2018 and is currently at French side Troyes for the rest of the season.
Finley Burns: Defender - Centre
Born in London and signed from Southend’s youth system; the 18-year-old central defender is a regular in the EDS and was another youngster to see first team action in that same League Cup game against Wycombe.
Josh Wilson-Esbrand: Defender - Left
This 18-year-old left-back (yes, we do actually have a specialist left-back at the club!) is another EDS regular who took his place in the first team against The Chairboys.
Luke Mbete: Defender - Centre
Luke, who has just turned 18, is yet-another central defender at the club who sees a lot of EDS action. Luke has been seen in & around the first team more and more recently too; training with the squad, appearing on the bench and, yes, he also made the starting line-up in the League Cup a few weeks back.
Pedro Porro: Defender - Right
Signed from City Football Group side Girona for just short of £11M in August 2018; the just turned 22-year-old Spanish right-wing back is on his second loan from our club. This latest one, however, sees him in his second season with Portuguese side Sporting CP, who appear keen to sign him permanently at the end of his loan period. I’ve looked at this extended loan spell - with a possible sale at the end - as a gesture of friendship & cooperation with Sporting, as we have apparently ‘cast our eyes’ over their young left-wing back star, Nuno Mendes. However, Nuno has recently moved to PSG on loan with an option for the French club to buy the 19-year-old, so I’m guessing that this one is a ‘none runner’ as far as we’re concerned. If that’s the case, I can see Pedro possibly returning to City in July 2022 with a possible 3rd loan looming for the lad. We shall see, of course, but either way I can’t see him making an appearance for us and we might want to considering a sale before his 2024 contract expires…
Philippe Sandler: Defender / Midfielder - Centre
A highly-rated, promising central defender who has been likened to Vincent Kompany. I’ve seen reports of how classy he can look on the ball and he has been known to perform well as a defensive midfielder too. In fact, the Dutch born 24-year-old, who managed to get some brief first team minutes in domestic cup action in early 2019, went on loan to Vincent’s Anderlecht in the 2019 / 20 season and made 9 league appearances. This season and just like Erik Palmer-Brown, he too finds himself on loan at French side Troyes and has 2 league games under his belt so far. Signed way back in the summer of 2018; Phillipe suffered a big injury setback that kept him out for almost the entire 2020 / 21 season, where he had to have surgery on an ankle problem. I was a little surprised to discover that his contract expires in the summer of 2022 and, so, I think City will be keeping a very close eye on Sandler’s season in France; where a decision will have to be made as-to-whether to offer him a new deal or release him on a free.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis: Defender – Centre
Yep, another central defender! And although Taylor, like his many young, central defender colleagues will no doubt find it difficult to break through and past the likes of Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte, John Stones & Nathan Ake; this 19-year-old has a number of first team minutes ‘under his belt’ in both domestic cups as well as seeing Champions League action. In addition, the England Under-21 international played 19 times in the Championship for Blackburn Rovers last season, where he gained quite a number of accolades. This season, he finds himself under the tutorage of one Vincent Kompany, as he finds himself on loan for the season at Belgian side, Anderlecht. A bit more of a ‘no nonsense’, ‘rough ‘n’ ready’ defender, from what I’ve seen, but that’s not to say that he doesn’t also have the floor-play ability that Pep looks for in his central defenders. Another one with a bright future ahead of him, I would say; whether that’s at City or not. Having signed a new contract on 7th December 2020 until June 2024, he’s certainly in with a chance…
Yan Couto: Defender - Right
A fairly recent signing but one that feels like a VERY recent addition. After signing a 5-year deal in July 2020; in what seemed like ‘a blink of an eye’ he was loaned out to Girona for the remainder of the 2020 / 21 season, where he made 22 league appearances and scored 1 goal. Pre-season just gone, he featured quite a lot in our friendly matches before, once again, being loaned out for the rest of this season; this time at S.C. Braga. He comes with a lot of promise / expectation, does this one, and I think a lot of it will be down to how he develops physically as well as skill-wise over the next couple of seasons. A South American football expect once described him on radio as a very exciting prospect as we became heavily linked with the young Brazilian; one who has 25 appearances and 1 goal for the Brazil Under 17 side.
I hope you found that a little informative and of some interest – I’m working on ‘part 2’ (midfielders / wingers & forwards / strikers) and should have it released on or before Wednesday 13th October.
Thanks, as always, for taking the time.
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