Manchester City youngsters out to reverse the trend of Guardiola's loan players

Manchester City starlets James McAtee and Liam Delap know they will have to buck a trend if they are to succeed at the Etihad where others have failed.

The pair of 19-year-old friends, considered the most likely to succeed among the current crop of the champions' Academy graduates, have both been loaned out this summer to clubs in the Championship – arguably the most competitive league in European football.

Midfielder McAtee has already begun to impress at Sheffield United and, less than 50 miles away, striker Delap has played his first minutes at Stoke City.

Their short-term aim is to play regularly at a high standard, to continue their football education in a pressurised environment and then, long-term, to return to City and play in the Premier and Champions League – both have already had a brief taste of life at football’s top table.

However, if they are to become permanent members of Pep Guardiola’s squad – they have both made appearances in the Premier League and Uefa Champions League – McAtee and Delap are going to have to overcome something of a hoodoo.

During the great Catalan manager’s six-year reign at the Etihad Stadium not one youngster has been loaned out and returned to regular first-team football.

NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Nick Pope - 8, It’s not often you’ll see a goalkeeper get this score after conceding three, but Pope made a plethora of impressive saves and interventions, including tipping Erling Haaland’s effort on to the post and stealing the ball from Ilkay Gundogan’s toes.

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The two youth products who are currently in his squad – Phil Foden and Cole Palmer – made all their progress on the perfectly manicured training pitches at the City Football Academy.

Other recent hopefuls like Gavin Bazunu (now at