Pep Guardiola has backed Youngster Liam Delap to offer Manchester City something different in attack after the forward made his long-awaited first appearance of the campaign.
Delap is viewed in a similar vein as Cole Palmer and James McAtee, two other prodigious academy talents now with the first team, but has suffered with persistent ankle injuries.
Delap was described as a ‘typical British striker’ by his manager after having a clever header disallowed for offside during a 13-minute cameo in City’s victory over Fulham.
Manchester City’s 19-year-old forward Liam Delap has been praised by boss Pep Guardiola
‘Liam last season grew up a lot,’ said Guardiola. ‘He is the type of striker we don’t have — a killer, a typical British striker.
He has special qualities. An incredible finisher. He needs to improve when he drops, with the first touch. The only problem we’ve had is injury after injury after injury. He will dictate the plan to me. It depends on his behaviour and performance.’
Guardiola believes his father, former Stoke player Rory — now a coach in the Potteries — will help shape his development.
Guardiola believes Delap can add something different to his side and is a ‘typical British striker’
‘Today there are lots of distractions off the pitch,’ he said. ‘I don’t think that is the case with Liam because his father works at Stoke City and he has come from the world of football. But we are not guards here, we cannot control them.’
Delap has a hulking frame and was the country’s top scorer at Under 23 level last year. Guardiola added: ‘Every training session he fights — and most of the time wins the duels… or breaks his nose or something like that.’
