Tommy Doyle: Senior players brilliant with youngsters | OneFootball

Tommy Doyle has praised Manchester City’s senior professionals for the welcoming environment they have created for young players moving up from the Elite Development Squad (EDS).

The Academy graduate has been involved in the first team set-up since making his debut last season and says he has been embraced by the Club’s established stars, who are keen to offer advice both on and off the pitch.

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Doyle admits his game has developed since he began training alongside Pep Guardiola’s side and says he felt their support as he helped the EDS to a maiden Premier League 2 triumph.

“When you are training there every day you learn so much,” he told mancity.com.

“They don’t just ignore you, they give you advice, they talk to you and not just about football. About your personal life and stuff like that which is good and you become mates with them. That is brilliant.

“They care about this league [Premier League 2]. They wanted us to win it, which is good.

“It gives us a boost and a push to come in and perform because when we perform for the EDS, all the first team staff will watch.

“We want to impress them so we can go and play at the Etihad instead of the Academy Stadium.”

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Doyle enjoyed a particularly successful 2020/21 season, winning the delayed 2019/20 FA Youth Cup in addition to his Premier League 2 success.

The Club had further reason to celebrate as the Under-18s were crowned national champions and whilst player development remains a vital aim of the Academy, the 19-year-old believes the experience of winning can only aid youngsters in their bid to break into the first team.

“As a club we want to win, simple as that,” he added.

“We are winners. We have to do whatever we can to win. It is the same philosophy all the way through, from Under-18s to the men and women’s first teams, it is all the same.

“For us, our goal is to get to the first team and winning the PL2 helps us, so to do that is a big moment and everyone is very happy.”