Liam Delap could be Man City's very own Erling Haaland as teenager shows he can be another option up front
With his blonde locks, long gait, broad shoulders and unerring finish, there was something very familiar about Liam Delap’s opening goal in Manchester City’s 2-1 win against Bournemouth.
Even as he wheeled away, arms outstretched in celebration, it was hard not to compare the 17-year-old striker with another teenaged forward.
There is more than a passing resemblance to Erling Braut Haaland, the Borussia Dortmund hit man, who is blazing a trail across Europe.
This is not to put unnecessary pressure on the shoulders of Delap – but it is easy to see why City are so excited about him.
Pep Guardiola has seen more than enough starlets come through the ranks in his time at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, but he even he looked on in wonder after Delap’s lethal opener after just 18 minutes of his debut in the EFL Cup.
Turning away and shaking his head in disbelief the City manager looked over to his coaching staff as if to seek confirmation as to what he’d witnessed.
Galloping to meet Phil Foden’s through ball, Delap lashed an unstoppable shot past Mark Travers that crashed into the top corner.
It was a measure of the former Derby prospect’s confidence.
Yes, he was playing for City’s first team – albeit in an empty stadium – but instinct kicked in.
Be it at age level football or on the training ground, the target remains the same. The goals are the same size and, on this occasion, the result the same as any time he sees the whites of the goalkeeper’s eyes.
He found the back of the net – as he so often does.
On the bench against Wolves on Monday night, here he let Guardiola know he is ready and waiting should he be needed during Sergio Aguero’s recovery from knee injury.
That will be a relief to the Catalan, who is over-reliant on Gabriel Jesus to lead the line for up to two months of the start of the season.
Delap will not be rushed.
He is a talent to be nurtured – but strikers have a habit of seizing opportunities when they come their way.
This was a statement of intent from the son of former Derby and Stoke player Rory.
He was the name that stood out on a much-changed City team sheet as Guardiola turned to the club’s new generation in his time of need.
With seven first team players unavailable and an unrelenting schedule, Guardiola knew he had to put his faith in the best of the academy – Tommy Doyle, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Adrian Bernabe.
But given his performances at youth level – including two goals against Mansfield in the Football League Trophy earlier this month – Delap was the player fans wanted to get a good look at.
He didn’t disappoint.
A big lad, he’s a handful when chasing down defenders.
He covers the ground quickly, moves cleverly and doesn’t need a second invitation to shoot.
Delap doesn’t need to look far for inspiration in terms of what he can achieve if he continues to progress.
Foden has had to wait for his chance behind a cast of some of the finest attacking talent to grace the Premier League.
The departures of David Silva and Leroy Sane have finally presented an opening for him and he’s certainly taking it.
He’s been outstanding since project restart – after scoring against Wolves on Monday, he reacted smartly to Riyad Mahrez’ 75th-minute shot that rebounded off the foot of the post.
The ball came to Foden at pace – but he adjusted his feet quickly at direct his shot over the outstretched arm of Travers.
It was enough to secure safe passage to the fourth round after Sam Surridge had cancelled out Delap’s strike with a spinning shot in the 22nd minute.
Guardiola may have turned to the kids – but his determination to win this competition for a fourth season in succession was evident when bringing on Kevin de Bruyne and Raheem Sterling as the score line remained at 1-1 with time ticking down.
Still, with the Champions League set to resume and a daunting challenge of wrestling the title away from Liverpool standing in front of them, Delap and company may get more opportunities than expected to enhance their reputations this season.
