Rodri heir apparent gets his chance to impress

AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT CATALAN YOUNGSTER MAHAMADOU SUSOHO

- JOE BRAY

CITY just can’t find a suitable replacement for Rodri, despite how many combinations of senior midfielders and defenders they try.

They have produced a number of highly-rated academy prospects in that position, although Rodri’s excellence means the path to first team level is a tricky one. Romeo Lavia, Shea Charles and Tommy Doyle have all left in search of senior football, earning City more than £35m in the process.

The next midfielder trying to follow in their footsteps, and even go one better and crack into Guardiola’s plans, is Catalan youngster Mahamadou Susoho - who was rewarded for an impressive start to the season with a senior call-up for City’s clash with Red Star last night.

Susoho watches City midfielders Rodri and Mateo Kovacic when he is called up to training, with Rodri making an effort to integrate the four youngsters training with the first team on Tuesday. In his spare time, he watches videos of Barcelona and Spain legend Sergio Busquets, trying to take anything he can from the best players in his position.