How local boy O'Reilly took centre stage at Man City

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• Published1 hour ago

Nico O'Reilly has fond memories of his last trip to a Wembley Stadium final and the Manchester City player will be aiming to produce a repeat in Saturday's FA Cup showpiece against Chelsea.

The 21-year-old scored twice in a starring performance against Arsenal to help City lift the Carabao Cup in March, and now he will be searching to claim a double.

City's season boils down to the next 10 days, which will determine how successful this term will be - they are still in contention for the Premier League title, so Pep Guardiola's side can potentially finish with one, two or three trophies come next Sunday.

For O'Reilly, silverware is not the only motivation in these next few weeks as he looks to seal a place in Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the World Cup this summer.

"He has probably been the best left-sided player this season," Garry Riley, the scout who discovered O'Reilly, told BBC Sport.

"There are plenty of good left-sided players but to see him - if he can - get in that World Cup squad would be unbelievable."

Talent spotted at a young age

O'Reilly's "unbelievable talent" was spotted at the age of six, according to Riley, who says he had a "great left foot", was "good on the ball" as well as having "determination".

Even at that young age, there were scouts from Manchester United, Liverpool, Everton and Blackburn Rovers watching him in action for Moston Tigers and Failsworth Dynamos.

O'Reilly was first recommended to Riley by local scout Joe Yates, who would keep in touch with the family about his progress.

Riley said: "It was so competitive in their younger days - it still is now at the moment - because all the top clubs in the North West want all the best boys, so it's so hard.

"This is where you've got to work quite hard with the parents and work as a team at the club. When he has signed on to the under-nines, your job's not done.

"You carry on keeping in touch with parents, the recruitment team take over, the physios get involved. It's a massive job getting these boys through but it is all about teamwork."

O'Reilly grew up in Collyhurst and lists Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldinho as players who he "loved watching", while his City idols include Kevin de Bruyne, Yaya Toure, David Silva and Sergio Aguero.

Asked about his early days in football, O'Reilly told BBC Sport: "[We played] a bit of everywhere - on the grass, on the streets. We used to go to the little cage and play there.

"There used to be about 30 of us that used to go out and play and just have a good time. I was a good kid, I just love playing sports. I love being out doing activities."

Progress has been 'unbelievable'

A boyhood fan of the club, O'Reilly progressed through City's age groups after signing with the academy aged eight.

After captaining the under-18s to the Premier League title in that particular category in 2023 - and impressing in the elite development squad last season - he made his breakthrough into the senior side last season.

Though a midfielder, O'Reilly has been deployed mainly at left-back by Guardiola and made a total of 51 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring nine goals.

His performances have also earned him a call-up into the England team, earning three caps to date, while he has also been nominated for the Premier League's young player of the season award.

Although O'Reilly's previous trip to Wembley was memorable, last season's FA Cup final was a forgetful one - suffering a shock defeat by Crystal Palace to end the campaign without a major trophy.

Reflecting on O'Reilly's progress, Riley said: "It has just been unbelievable. He is a down to earth young man. He has always listened every time I have watched him play.

"I didn't watch him a great deal through the academy journey because, once we get him signed, we pass him on then to the next part of his journey.

"But I always keep in touch with him, try and get to as many games as I can, and he has been just unbelievable."

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