Man City's next rough diamond from the academy is ready to step out of the shadows

When one player leaves Manchester City, an opportunity opens for someone else to take that place. It's a sentiment that is integral to how the first team operate, but it's perhaps even more relevant in the academy.

After a summer of turnover, the academy are starting to recover from a slow start at under-21 and under-18 level. With the return of the UEFA Youth League on Tuesday, it was a chance for the next generation to start setting their stall to be the next players making a name for themselves (and perhaps earn City a few million in the process).

The pressure is perhaps off City's youngsters this season given the high-profile departures over the summer, but the desire to win another trophy the club has never won before remains high. And with that collective desire comes a chance for certain players to stand out - just like winger Emilio Lawrence did on Tuesday.

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"We want to win it, that's the main aim. I don't think the club's won it yet so that's definitely something we're striving to take," Lawrence said of City's Youth League aims.

Lawrence had just scored two fine goals and added an eye-catching assist in City's 5-2 win over Red Star on Tuesday, opening the scoring in a tight first-half by finishing cooly one-on-one four minutes before the break. A minute after half-time, he came inside and curled a wonderful finish into the far corner from just inside the area. It was the first of three City goals in nine minutes to take control of the game.

After two Red Star consolations threatened to set up a nervy finish, Lawrence jinked to the byline and laid