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With Manchester City showing interest in young, English talent, how long before they can produce another of their own?

Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak spoke glowingly about the academy in his annual sermon for supporters, describing it as "the best in England".

But while the players he namechecked - Jose Pozo, Kelechi Iheanacho and Angelino - will all be welcomed warmly if they make the step up, it was fitting that City's last big academy hit Micah Richards - and still looked up to among the youngsters - took time to praise one of City's brightest English prospects.

"Can't wait to see you in the first team! Keep working hard," he tweeted to 18-year-old midfielder Kean Bryan.

The Gorton-based starlet is part of the Manchester core in City's academy, and was centre-stage when the club opened the CFA last December.

An assured player on the pitch pivoting between defence and attack, the teenager happily admits his admiration for outgoing Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.

"Not because of his football side - I wouldn't say I'm the same player as him - but it's the heart for the game and the heart for your club," he said.

If they hadn't before, City fans are sure to have warmed to Bryan after his comments that he would rather play for City than United - straight after losing 4-0 to the Reds.

And there won't be many complaints if Bryan can bring that heart he speaks of to the Blues in future.

"I feel like this is my club, it feels like a home to me," he told M.E.N Sport.

"I've been here since I was 11 years old so definitely it would be a great honour to be a first team player one day and win the first team shirt."

As much as he impressed, last season held plenty of disappointment for Bryan. That derby defeat, losing in the FA Youth Cup final, and a quarter-final exit in the UEFA Youth League hit hard.

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One of the competition favourites, the Blues crashed out to a Roma team they had beaten twice in the group stage, and captain Kean was sent off for two unremarkable yellow-card offences.

On that occasion, the experience of coach Patrick Vieira - who "has probably been sent off in his career!" - came in handy.

"Patrick put his arm around me afterwards, which I appreciated," said the midfielder. "He said it wasn't all down to me, I'd helped them to get this far in the competition.

"It was good of him to pull me aside to say that and get my confidence back because I did feel very, very down after that game because I felt like I was the reason why I was out."

Bryan has bounced back from that setback, and having picked up an injury near the end of the season is on the road to recovery this summer.

With Richards now an Aston Villa player, maybe he can be on the same pitch to meet Bryan in the City first team before too long.