DELAP OF HONOUR

Liam is ready to be thrown in at the top

YOUNG GUNS: Liam Delap gets a hug from Phil Foden after his cup goal

The 17- year- old son of former Stoke midfielder and throw- in legend Rory marked his City debut with a stunning strike in a 2- 1 third- round Carabao Cup win over Bournemouth.

Pep Guardiola turned to Delap to lead the attack with City’s alltime leading goalscorer Sergio Aguero still making his way back after knee surgery.

With Gabriel Jesus also sidelined, Delap – who joined City last season from Derby – could be set to make his Premier League bow against Leicester.

It might only be off the bench, but it is the next big step.

And Delap is unfazed at the jump from the academy to the first team and has told Guardiola he can be counted on if the City boss needs to call on him again.

“To get the call- up, I couldn’t be happier. It’s a dream come true.”

City have spent their way to four Premier League titles in the last decade, bankrolled by billionaire owner Sheikh personal fortune.

But with injuries having stretched their squad to the limit just two weeks into the new season, Guardiola has been forced to turn to the club’s academy.

Phil Foden has made the step up to the first team, having come through the youth ranks at City, and others are now ready to follow in his footsteps.

The likes of Tommy Doyle, Taylor Harwood- Bellis and Cole Palmer, all 18, plus Eric Garcia and Felix Nmecha, both 19, are expected to be named in City’s 18- man match- day squad tomorrow.

Despite having his personnel depleted, Guardiola is confident the players at his disposal can cope against Leicester and

Mansour’s praised the spirit shown by younger players.

“It will be incredibly tough, we know that,” said Guardiola. “It’s always difficult to play Leicester and this will be no exception.

“But we play at home and I see the team really well in terms of happiness and the relationships.

“The young players help us a lot and we move forward.

“We will recover and try to arrive fresh for the game. We don’t have time to practise anything.

“We prepared for five weeks. Now we recover and before the game we’ll see the players more fit and ready.

“Last season Leicester were incredible. They struggled in the last part of the season, when Ben Chilwell and James Maddison were injured – they were big players for them.

“They have exceptional players up front and in the middle. We know it. We know how tough it will be.” the