Man City academy notebook - Man United stand in way of Treble dreams as forgotten striker returns

As Manchester City's transitional season continues at the top of the academy, the under-18s are continuing to lead the way and keep up their hunt for a treble - but Manchester United stand in the way.

With the new Premier League 2 format proving prohibitive for Brian Barry-Murphy's under-21s - as well as a combination of player sales, injuries, loans and senior call-ups - City's best hopes of another academy trophy lie firmly with the under-18s.

An FA Youth Cup semi-final this week will keep hopes of an unlikely treble alive, and Ben Wilkinson's youngsters will also hope for a favour from rivals Liverpool to maintain belief of maintaining their under-18 Premier League North title. Here's the latest Academy news round-up.

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This time last season, City headed to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal in the FA Youth Cup semi-final. Reduced to 10 men on seven minutes and a goal down from the resulting free-kick, Ben Wilkinson's side found a second half equaliser and looked set to force penalties until a heartbreaking 119th-minute winner for the hosts.

That defeat took a while to recover from, although City did beat eventual Youth Cup winners West Ham in the U18 Premier League national final. This season the Blues have reached the semi-finals once again and have a presentable path to lifting the trophy. In their way stand Bristol City, who visit the Joie Stadium on Tuesday looking to produce an upset by knocking City out on their own turf.

Win that game and City will face Leeds or Millwall at home in the final. City's coaches and players will insist