One of Manchester City’s academy graduates has reportedly been impressing whilst training with the senior squad.
The Manchester club have seen numerous players make their way through the academy and into the first team over recent years such as Phil Foden, Rico Lewis, Oscar Bobb and Cole Palmer among others.
Now though, a report has emerged containing details of another youngster’s first taste of being around the first-team and even managing to frustrate one of Pep Guardiola’s star players on the training pitch.
City youngster frustrates senior star in training
A recent report from the Daily Mail had this to say on the matter.
It said: “Gabriel and William Saliba both labelled Jeremy Doku as the trickiest player to face in the league last week – and there is no doubting that the Belgian offers something different for City out wide, something showcased on the right wing against Villa.
“But while he strikes fear into defenders up and down the country with a jagged and unpredictable dribbling style, there was one youngster who fancied his chances during a recent training session.
“Wales youth international Rhys Thomas, 17, won’t be a name City fans are overly familiar with. A full-back who can operate on either flank, he’s made six appearances in the Under-18 Premier League this season.
“The expectation is that he will become a regular in that academy side next year and he did his chances no harm when asked to participate with the first team a few months back.
“Thomas, who has recently signed a new contract at City, found himself up against Doku and the Belgian is said to have failed to jink his way past Thomas throughout the session. Doku’s teammates found this particularly amusing.”
The 17-year-old right-back has made nine appearances for City’s U1 side across all competitions and has managed to score one goal in that time.
Bearing in mind how Doku has the second-highest number of successful take-ons (72) in the entire Premier League this season, this showcases just how impressive it must be for Thomas to stifle the tricky winger in training.
Moving forward, it’ll be interesting to see if Thomas gets a chance to feature in the first team anytime in the near future.