Delap’s in a dream world after scoring on his debut

LIAM Delap says scoring on his City debut was a ‘dream come true’.

The 17-year-old has been training with the first team squad since the Premier League restart at the beginning of the summer, and he took the jump to senior football in his stride as he opened the scoring against Bournemouth. Running onto a pinpoint Phil Foden through-ball, Delap guided a lovely first-time finish into the top corner with his left foot from the edge of the area on 18 minutes.

And he couldn’t hide his excitement after the game, explaining how he opted for the first-time finish as he could see the goalkeeper rushing off his line.

He said: “I was happy to score, it was a dream come true for me. To finish like that – I was buzzing!

“I saw the keeper coming off his line and I thought I would guide it in.”

With Gabriel Jesus being City’s only senior striker in the absence of the injured Sergio Aguero - who could be out for up to two months - manager Pep Guardiola had hinted at changes to key positions for last night’s game after the Premier League win at Wolves on Monday, where Delap had been on the bench.

And with Jesus not included in the squad to face Bournemouth at the Etihad, it was left to Delap - son of former Stoke defender Rory -to lead the line.

“I heard that I was going to play this morning,” he said last night, explaining how his debut came about. The boss announced the team and I heard I was in and I was buzzing.

“I like to be aggressive and to give defenders a tough game for 90 minutes. Now I need to keep working hard and look to take every opportunity I get.”