We don’t usually read too much into pre-season as it only really serves as a preparation for the campaign ahead, but it is always refreshing to see a batch of youngsters in the first-team picture for a short while.
In City’s pre-season tour, we have the likes of Angus Gunn, George Evans, Seko Fofana, Olivier Ntcham, Brandon Barker and Pablo Maffeo in the squad and it will be great to see them in first-team action.
But one new name in the squad is local lad Cameron Humphreys, who astoundingly is just 16 years of age and will be mixing it with Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure and co in training.
And though the prospect is quite daunting, Humphreys is totally unfazed and intends on making a real impression this summer.
Speaking to the club’s official site, he said: “It’s good for me to be the youngest here because that just means I have the most people to look up to.”
Humphreys, an accomplished and talented central defender who can also fill in at full-back, seamlessly slotted in for Patrick Vieira’s EDS side and now gets his shot in the first-team fold.
As you would expect, it came as major surprise to him to hear the news.
“I was out having some food in town then [EDS team manager] Marc Boixasa called me to say I was on the list for the first-team.
“My Auntie actually cried when she found out I was coming away with the first-team but everyone has just been really nice, saying how proud they are of me to have this opportunity.”
Humphreys was named Player’s Player of the Year at academy level and now aims to take the most of this opportunity, much likes others have done, and test himself at the highest level.
“It’d be great to have my debut out here with the first-team. We all saw what George Evans did against Toronto and it’s inspiring – it shows there are opportunities and spurs us all on.
“Obviously I’m not likely to be scoring from 30 yards as a centre-back but just to get some minutes for the first-team would be great.”
So we have another youngster keen to impress Manuel Pellegrini, and one who speaks well despite not even reaching 17 yet.
The young lads have a big chance to assert themselves in big games against European heavyweights such as Roma and Real Madrid.
Keep your eyes peeled for a lowdown piece on those who have travelled with the first team.
