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“I’m just so lucky to be here.”

Kean Bryan is wearing a grin as wide as the Etihad pitch as he sits in his club tracksuit mulling over his career so far.

The 19-year-old midfielder grew up just two miles away from the club’s home in Gorton, east Manchester and joined them aged 11, just before the Abu Dhabi takeover.

He, more than anyone, has been able to see the changes since Sheik Mansour signed on the dotted line in 2008.The corner of Beswick where we sit, formerly a coal mine and gas works, has been transformed with a 7,000-seater stadium which Kean and fellow hopefuls call home.

“When I was at school I used to go over to the Velodrome over the road and there was nothing here,” Kean said.

“Now there are all these buildings, the stadium and floodlights. It’s crazy how it’s transformed.

“Every time any family or friends drive past they still always say ‘wow’.”

We are sat in one of a suites in the Academy building, just one part of the sprawling state-of-the art £200m complex.

Out of one window you can see the array of lush green all-weather pitches where the players are put through their paces and hone their skills.While behind us is the open-plan gym where they ensure they are in peak condition.

But as Kean explains, that is just the start.

“We’ve literally got everything we could want. It’s not just the facilities, the people are amazing as well.

“The main thing is it gives us chance to work closer to the first team. Everything the first team do, we do” he said.

“Whether it’s eating our breakfast, our lunch, it’s all in the same canteen. The swimming pools, recovery areas... it’s all by each other.

“So in one way we already are first-team players. We’re around them and experiencing their lifestyle.

“The manager and his staff can also just walk over from their office to watch our games.

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“So having everyone being under one roof definitely helps and means we can take our chances when they come.”

As it says above the door for all visitors to see, they want to build a structure for the future.

One man who hopes to be part of that future is goalkeeper Angus Gunn, currently working in the Elite Development Squad (EDS).

Despite coming from an esteemed footballing family, with dad Bryan held in legendary status at Norwich, the 19-year-old says he was enchanted when he first walked through the door.

“When we first saw the plans it was difficult to imagine in our heads. But when we came here we were blown away. The size of it is unbelievable.

“The stadium is something not many clubs have. I know a lot of the clubs have been here and seen what we’ve done. They’ve been so impressed they want to build something similar.”

There comes the crucial point.

The Blues have been lauded for their transformation of the area. However the naysayers insist the proof will be in the pudding: namely homegrown players becoming first-team regulars.

However Gunn, who was recently called up to the England Under-21 squad, is confident.

“When any of the lads train or play with the first team everyone is happy for them and congratulate them but everyone also aspires to do the same thing.“We believe it’ll happen.“If it is going to happen anywhere, it’s here.”

Check out of gallery of new images of the CFA below