Pep Guardiola confirms Liam Delap will be promoted to senior Manchester City squad next season

Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Liam Delap will be promoted to the senior Manchester City squad next season.

Delap, the son of former Stoke City favourite Rory, has been impressing for City's Under 23s this season, managing 20 goals in just 15 Premier League 2 games.

He also got a taste of first team action in the Carabao Cup, scoring the opening goal in his side's 2-1 win over Bournemouth in September. The striker has featured in the Premier League as well, enjoying a 39 minute cameo during City's 5-2 defeat to Leicester at the beginning of the season.

Guardiola is a big fan of Delap, calling him up to train with his squad regularly this season. Next season, City fans can expect to see even more of him. Guardiola is not a fan of sending his most highly rated youngsters on loan and he confirmed that Delap would instead continue to develop at the Etihad Stadium.

"Liam is training with us this season, like the first season with Brahim (Diaz) and Phil. Jadon (Sancho) did not accept," Guardiola said (via the Manchester Evening News).

"Liam, like (James) McAtee, (Cole) Palmer, and Luke Mbete... many players training and doing well. We are in touch with (EDS coach Enzo) Maresca and talking about how they are developing. It’s training with us and next season he’ll be with us next season, training every day."

It is likely that Delap and the other young Cityzens called up to the first team next season may have to wait patiently for their chance, as Phil Foden has had to do over the past few seasons. Although he is featuring regularly now, netting the winner in his side's recent 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, Foden often had to put up with lengthy spells on the sidelines in recent years.