Manchester City Nigerian Wonderkid Dele-Bashiru In Contention To Face Stoke City

Manchester City attacking midfielder Tom Dele-Bashiru is in line to return to the starting line-up when his team trade tackles with Stoke City in the second leg of the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup on Monday night.

Despite playing an important role for the Citizens in the earlier rounds of the competition, manager Lee Carsley started him on the bench against the Potters in the first leg at City Academy Stadium.

Previewing the tie, City wrote on their official website : “Tom Dele-Bashiru was the unlucky one in the first leg. Having played a key role in earlier rounds, the midfielder was reduced to a substitutes’ berth as City opted for the pace of Luke Bolton and the striking power of Nmecha with Diaz operating in Dele-Bashiru’s central role.

“Will Carsley go with the side that clearly worked so well in the first leg or will he have some more surprises up his sleeve?”

Manchester City have one foot in the final of the FA Youth Cup after thrashing the opponents 6-0 in the first leg on March 10.

The 17-year-old Tom Dele-Bashiru started against Liverpool, Aston Villa and Southampton, while he came off the bench in games with Reading and Stoke City.

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : mancity.com