Manchester Metropolis continued their good begin to the 2024/25 Premier League marketing campaign with a slender 2-1 victory over Brentford at The Etihad on Saturday.

The Cityzens have now received all 4 of their matches within the top-flight and at the moment sit on the prime of the desk, as they go in the hunt for a fifth straight title.

Erling Haaland, after all, scored each of the targets for Pep Guardiola to safe all three factors, after an early strike from Yoane Wissa had given the away aspect the lead.

The Norway worldwide has now scored a staggering 9 targets in 4 Premier League matches to date this season, together with hat-tricks in opposition to Ipswich City and West Ham United.

He has been the star of the present for Metropolis, together with his outrageous goalscoring report, however the former Borussia Dortmund marksman has not been the one shining mild of the marketing campaign.

Rico Lewis has emerged as a daily starter for Pep Guardiola in the beginning of this season and has caught the attention together with his performances for the champions.

Rico Lewis’ spectacular begin to the season

The spectacular academy graduate solely began eight of his 16 appearances within the Premier League through the 2023/24 marketing campaign, as a bit-part participant for Metropolis.

He was behind Kyle Walker within the pecking order, for membership and nation, final season however the tables have turned and it’s now the opposite approach round.

Lewis has began all 4 of the membership’s matches within the Premier League this time period and was chosen for the newest England squad, by Lee Carsley, forward of Walker.

The 19-year-old starlet, who turns 20 in November, has earned his place within the beginning XI on advantage and has been a powerful performer within the division this time period, with three begins at right-back and one at left-back.

Lewis, who performed 39 occasions for the membership at U18 and U21 stage mixed, has not regarded misplaced as a daily first-team operator, from a technical or bodily perspective.

As you possibly can see within the desk above, he has been a combative and dominant defensive possibility for Guardiola, profitable 67% of his bodily contests within the Premier League this time period.

He has additionally accomplished 87% of his tried passes and recorded one help, for Haaland in opposition to West Ham, which reveals that the full-back has been dependable and succesful in possession for Metropolis.

These statistics present that Lewis deserves his place within the aspect for the Cityzens and recommend that he’s on the right track for a unbelievable breakthrough marketing campaign with the champions, if he can keep this stage of type over the following eight months or so.

Guardiola has offered younger gamers, like Lewis, Oscar Bobb, and Phil Foden, with probabilities to shine within the first-team through the years and he could have already got his subsequent model of Lewis within the U21 aspect proper now, in gifted teenager Jacob Wright.

Jacob Wright’s massive potential

Identical to the 19-year-old first-team star, Wright can play in the course of the park in central midfield or as a right-back, which means that he can be snug inverting in Guardiola’s system.

He has performed 16 video games at right-back and 31 matches in a defensive midfield function at academy stage for Metropolis and will, subsequently, be excellent for the right-back function that may see him invert right into a central midfield place alongside, normally, Rodri to create a 3-2 build-up for Metropolis.

The 18-year-old starlet has caught the attention together with his performances for the youth groups, with 9 targets and 6 assists in 65 video games for the U21 and U18 sides mixed, regardless of taking part in in defensive positions.

As you possibly can see within the desk above, Wright impressed in his first look of the 2024/25 EFL Trophy marketing campaign in opposition to Chesterfield final month.

He began in a central midfield place and obtained his identify on the scoresheet, while additionally demonstrating his qualities out and in of possession, finishing 90% of his tried passes and making 9 tackles, interceptions, and recoveries.

Together with that spectacular outing, Wright has additionally produced an eye catching two targets and three assists in three Premier League 2 matches this season, and his type could catch Guardiola’s eye with a view to extra first-team publicity this time period.

The following steps for Jacob Wright

The teenage whiz made two first-team appearances within the 2023/24 marketing campaign, with one outing within the Champions League and one within the FA Cup, and this reveals that he’s already on the supervisor’s radar.

Earlier this 12 months, Guardiola claimed that the midfielder has been coaching with the first-team and is “progressing rather well“, which means that the Spanish head coach is happy together with his growth to date.

Reigning Premier League Participant of the 12 months Foden, who got here via the academy system himself, additionally mentioned that he was “delighted” for Wright and that it’s a “dream” for him to play alongside fellow academy graduates just like the teenage ace.

This reveals that he has caught the attention of the supervisor and one of many first-team’s largest stars, which speaks to his potential as a participant at such a younger age.

On the age of 18, there is no such thing as a instant rush for Wright to emerge as a key participant for Metropolis’s senior aspect, provided that Lewis has solely now nailed down a beginning spot and is about to show 20.

The objective for the England U20 worldwide this season ought to be to rack up a smattering of first-team appearances in all competitions and to earn a Premier League debut.

Wright may then use that have as a platform to kick on and set up himself within the 2025/26 marketing campaign as Rico Lewis 2.0 for Guardiola.