CITY CALL UP DELAP JNR, 17
EXPLOSIVE teenage striker Liam Delap, son of the former Stoke midfielder Rory, is in line for a senior Manchester City debut tomorrow night. Delap, who is not 18 until February, has been fast-tracked to first-team training after signing from Derby County last year. The England Under 17 international was a surprise name on Pep Guardiola’s bench for Monday’s 3-1 Premier League victory at Wolves in Sergio Aguero’s absence. Guardiola vowed to name a much-changed side for tomorrow’s Carabao Cup third-round tie against Bournemouth, with Delap in contention to start. Tommy Doyle, Felix Nmecha, Adrian Bernabe, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Cole Palmer are all under consideration for selection. City sources have long talked up Delap, who scored twice during the Under 21 team’s recent EFL Trophy win over Mansfield Town. Delap trained with Guardiola’s squad during Project Restart and City believe he has the physical capabilities to deal with top-level men’s football. ‘Obviously the players are the best of the best and being around them shows what the highest level is like and what it takes to be there,’ Delap said. ‘Getting a taste of that gives me great confidence.’ Guardiola is dealing with a spate of injuries, with Aguero, Aleks Zinchenko, Bernardo Silva and Joao Cancelo among those missing out. Eric Garcia has a chance of featuring, as does Aymeric Laporte. Ilkay Gundogan is self-isolating after testing positive for coronavirus.