PEP GUARDIOLA HAS handed talented youngster Phil Foden his full Manchester City debut for the game against Shakhtar Donetsk in Kharkiv.
The 17-year-old will be the youngest Englishman to start a Champions League match, according to Sky Sports.
Foden won the Golden Ball as he helped England lift the Under-17s World Cup in October and has long been tipped to make an impact at City.
City rejected a number of loan offers for the teen star during the summer and Guardiola, a huge fan of the youngster, insists he will spend the entire season with the first-team.
Foden has been with the Blues since he was six years old and was named on the bench for the final Champions League group game last season, but did not see any action.
He made his debut off the bench in the last round of fixtures, coming on as a late substitute against Feyenoord.
A 1-0 victory in that match assured City of a place in the last 16 as group winners, and Guardiola has taken the opportunity to rotate his squad ahead of Sunday’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford.
Ederson, Fernandinho, Leroy Sane and Gabriel Jesus are the only first-team regulars to start in Ukraine.
Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva have played support roles so far this season but both with start on Wednesday, with Yaya Toure also coming into the side.
Summer signing Danilo gets a rare start, while 20-year-old centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo will partner Eliaquim Mangala at the heart of the defence.
With additional reporting by Sinéad Farrell.
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
Celtic played well they deserved a draw
To be fair, 3rd place was always the best Celitc were going to get. They played really well tonight but 3rd place and a good go at the Europa league and no reason why they can’t go far in that competition.
Only once v anderlecht away have celtic had their first choice center halves playing. Lustig and bitton have filled in well against fare superior sides
If they can hold onto Teirney and Dembele they could have a right go at the Europa League. James Forrest reminds me so much of Mc Geedy but played a blinder tonight. Rodgers is really building a decent squad up there.
@phil: Tierney signed a new 6 year contract yesterday
@Jordo: That doesn’t mean he will be still with Celtic in 6 years, just how many millions they will get when they do decide to sell.
@Dave Murray: never said he will be with Celtic in 6 years. Tierney is a boy hood Celtic fan Hence why he signed a 6 year contract
Armstrong should have put us 1 up and boyata for munichs first goal was shockin. We played brilliant tonight its a pity we didnt get a draw. Missing simonivic has been huge the last few games. I can see us doin well in the europa league
@ryan o sullivan: WE? US? WHAT?
@Enda McCallion: here we go 10 in a row
Better display from the Celtic , with displays like this they have no fear for europa lge .
So unlucky. Didn’t get what we deserved. Hard defeat to take that one.
Again, our lack of signing a centre half in the summer is killing us. Simunovic is made of chocolate.
Gallant effort