Manchester City head coach Enzo Maresca has confirmed that three academy products — Kaden Braithwaite, Floyd Samba and Ryan McAidoo will be involved when City travel to face Norwich in the Carabao Cup on Thursday. He, however, stopped short of confirming whether the trio will start or be used from the bench.
The Italian, who returned to the Etihad Stadium in the summer to succeed Pep Guardiola, is already well acquainted with City’s academy set-up. He previously guided the club’s Elite Development Squad before rising through the coaching ranks at Leicester and Chelsea.
That familiarity has been evident in his handling of the club’s young talent during pre-season and now extends into the competitive schedule, with the third round of the League Cup offering the latest opportunity for academy graduates to press their case.
Maresca keeps his options open on selection
Speaking ahead of the trip to Carrow Road, Maresca made clear that all three players are firmly part of his first-team plans, even if their exact involvement remains undecided.
“These three work with us regularly, every day, unless sometimes they go with the EDS because they need to play. But they’re going to be involved [vs Norwich], I’m not saying from the beginning but they’re with us. We have a session now in the afternoon and we’ll see if we need more [Academy] players,” he said, according to City Xtra.
Braithwaite, still only 18, has already made history at the club, becoming City’s third-youngest player to make a first-team debut when he featured in a League Cup tie against Watford last season.
The versatile defender, who can also operate in a holding midfield role, has continued to progress through the age groups and was involved in Maresca’s pre-season squad on the club’s tour of Asia over the summer.
Samba, a combative and technically astute midfielder, and winger McAidoo — who has previously impressed with a goalscoring senior debut — round out the trio Maresca has earmarked for involvement.
Rotation planned as fixture congestion looms
Beyond the academy contingent, Maresca also signalled a broader shake-up of his starting line-up for the tie, framing the changes as both a squad-management measure and a chance for fringe players to state their case ahead of a demanding winter schedule.
“For sure we’re going to make some changes [vs Norwich], I don’t know how many. But for different reasons, also because the ones that are going to play I’m sure at some point in the season they’re going to play important games — Premier League, UEFA Champions League,” Maresca said.
He went on to explain the thinking behind resting key personnel so early in the campaign, pointing to the packed fixture list that typically arrives in the winter months.
“Now it’s early in the season, no suspensions, no injuries, but then November, December, January, February, with the amount of games and injuries and needing rest, the players that are going to play tomorrow, for sure for them it’s also an opportunity to get better and better and better, because at some point we need them also in different competitions and important games,” he added.
City go into the fixture as holders of the trophy after lifting the League Cup last season, and Maresca will be eager to begin the defence with a positive result despite the changes.
Norwich, managed by the experienced Philippe Clement, will provide Championship opposition looking to cause an upset against a City side fielding a significantly altered XI.
