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Jack Grealish has been just one of the British players linked with Manchester City amid talk of home grown quotas.

As the Blues consider the future, they already have one young Irish midfielder working his way up for club and country.

Jack Byrne has made his Ireland Under-21s debut and regularly impressed in City's EDS in the season just gone.

The Dublin-born 19-year-old is rising swiftly through the Irish set-up, and proud of it. He talks enthusiastically about being a part of the set-up, and giving a very strong Germany team a good game last September.

And he is similarly chirpy about life at City, a club he had no problem choosing over Premier League rivals Chelsea and United

"I'd been coming back and forth for around three years before I finally signed," he said.

"There was a real family feel with City, they always treated me really well. Plus, there was a real buzz about the place after the takeover.

"I always liked City and they made me and my family feel really welcome."

One occasion in the last season when Byrne got a less-than-warm reception with City came at the Stadio Comunale Domenico Francioni in March.

The Blues fancied their chances in the UEFA Youth League this season but came unstuck against Roma in the quarter-finals. Byrne didn't help his side when he picked up two avoidable yellow cards to see City reduced to nine men following Kean Bryan's earlier dismissal.

"It was just frustration," he reflected. "We'd beaten them twice in the group stage and if we'd played them at home we'd have won it ten times out of ten. But on the day it was really intimidating with their support, nothing went our way and it was just frustrating."

If that red card showed that Byrne is still developing, he has impressed at City. EDS coach Patrick Vieira has previously touched on comparisons with Paul Scholes, and the youngster's game has come on.

Eighteen months ago he wasn't necessarily seen as a goalscoring midfielder, yet a prolific UEFA Youth League campaign where he finished as the club's top scorer with six goals in eight games has changed a few opinions.

(Image: Andy Lambert)

Even Byrne isn't certain about what kind of midfielder he is, having slotted in wherever he has been asked to play in the fluid central three that the EDS line up with.

"I don't really know!" he said. "People have said I'm best in a more attacking role because I've been able to score a few goals in that position, especially in the Champions League games.

"But then I'd say my passing is one of the strongest parts of my game so I like playing a bit further back as well.

"I wouldn't say I have one set position but I'm not worried by that."

Worrying does not seem part of Byrne's character, and if he can keep improving he can save City a few grey hairs in the future about bringing through home grown talent.