Boss Stuart Pearce dusted down another gem from the shelves at the Riverside on Saturday afternoon and then admitted he might have made a mistake leaving midfielder Michael Johnson in cold storage for so long.
The England Under-19's schemer made his Premiership debut in the 4-0 humiliation at Wigan earlier in the season. It was a highly inauspicious start for the home-bred teenager who also broke a bone in his wrist during a game that saw the promise of his own contribution easily overshadowed by the paucity of the assistance around him.
Johnson's injury meant he faded out of the picture more quickly than he perhaps should have done and Pearce acknowledged as much after watching the youngster produce a measured, mature and impressive second Premiership 90 minutes in Saturday's vital 2-0 win over Gareth Southgate's men.
Captain of the FA Youth Cup runners-up team in the absence of Micah Richards during the 2005/06 season, Urmston-born Johnson was the 20th Academy graduate to progress from Platt Lane to the City first team and is now set for a battle royal with one of his predecessors Stephen Ireland for a slot in the Blues' five-man engine room for the run-in.
It was 20-year-old Ireland's absence with a turned ankle in training that gave Johnson his second chance in the spotlight and the fact that he earned the call ahead of the likes of seasoned performers Ousmane Dabo and Hatem Trabelsi in a match that most observers felt Pearce had to win to secure his own short-term future, spoke volumes for the 18-year-old's ability and nerve and the faith of the manager.
Mistake
"I am not afraid to hold my hand up and say that, at times, I have got things wrong and one of those mistakes was that I should have pushed Michael a little bit more and a little bit quicker this season," admitted Pearce.
"That was proved by his performance at the Riverside.
"He wasn't even in the squad to travel until Stevie Ireland had been forced to pull out but I am not afraid to vault someone straight into the team if I feel as though it will benefit us. When a kid gets an opportunity they have to take it with both hands and Michael did that.
"The lad showed no nerves, he is a strong character for such a young man and I was very pleased for him and very proud of him at the weekend. He is a mature 18-year-old.
"Playing for the first team will not go to his head. He will just be thinking about how he can get himself into the side for the trip to Newcastle a week on Saturday."
Johnson, who may find the atmosphere a little less tense and the game a little less frenetic when he turns out for his country against Turkey at Doncaster on Wednesday night, took the City manager's plaudits in his stride and refused to get carried away with his moment in the spotlight.
"The result at Wigan on my debut was terrible and the team's performance quite poor so the win at Middlesbrough was great and to get that first win under my belt a great feeling," he declared.
Patience
"I have spent the months between that debut and now first getting over the wrist injury and then working away trying to get into the first team and that is not easy when there are so many good players at the club. There has to be patience involved.
"I understand the manager's reasons for not picking me before now. I had my chance at Wigan, we lost 4-0, but now I have had another game and hopefully I have impressed and I can stay in a bit more now. At the least I have given him something to think about. The manager asked me to play in a disciplined and sensible manner and I felt that I did that.
"It was a good performance for a team away from home that had been on a bad run of results. We felt that if we could win the midfield battle we could win the game and that is how it worked out."
Johnson made his second appearance of the season alongside Champions League winner Didi Hamann, 15 years his senior, and there was more than a touch of similarity in the way the two caressed the ball around the pitch.
The youngster agreed that no-one should have been surprised because part of his learning process has been watching and listening to the experienced members of the squad.
"I have trained with Didi and the rest of the first team all season and I have learned from every player in that dressing room but the place you probably learn most and the quickest is on that pitch in a Premiership game," added the youngster who signed a new deal last season.
"I like all aspects of the midfielder's role. I enjoy the attacking, the defending, setting up goals and having a go at scoring them. A regular place in the first team is now what I want most.
"I suppose Stevie Ireland and myself could be vying for one place but that is what being a footballer is about.
"Before then I will hopefully play for England Under-19's and further my education a bit more by playing against foreign opposition and different tactics and experiencing some different training methods."
Should Johnson start ahead of Ireland? Have your say.
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yes he doesnt deserve to be dropped, end of! oh and next seasons kit are gorgeous adidas kits...
Jim Cassell is an absolute Manchester City great. God Bless that man. In other news, big Sam wants to come to city! gerrin. (Well thats what I made of his 'You never know' comments on sky sports news)
off topic but mpenza injured again.not good.
as they say dont change a winning side only if richards is fit but im not sure about sun and dont want samaras playing on the wing either
Looks like the kind of player who likes to sit deep and spray the ball around, like Carrick. Could learn a lot from Hamann on how to play that role.
I'm all in favour of boosting someone's confidence but I fear we are overhyping him after one good game. Like Sturridge he needs time to develop over the next 12 months.
Mpenza,scan reveals torn thigh muscle,will now miss all or most of the season,we now know why he was out of contract,thought things were too good to be true.
Chris, for God's sake leave, him be, stop making him out to be something he possibly may turn out to be, we're not at Old Trafford now you know. On the other hand, what is the point of having these youngsters, reared at great expense, to put them in the first team with a load of old has beens, or duffers, and probably ruin them?? answer me that, Surely the mix has to be them and some very good mid -twenties players with experience to bring them on faster, that surely must now be the way forward??
ps
On the other web, Ronaldo doesn't fall over, it's because he's too good for everyone else apparently, seems he's arrogant as well as being a cheat, why doesn't that surprise you?? Now, I just wonder who's instilled that in him then ???
That is really bad news. Now, who will score our goals??
Should send a simple message to Stephen Ireland ie Don't mess about with your contract negotiation as we have your replacement coming through .... take it or leave it !
I hope Johnsons got more pace then Ireland and a bit more strength won't hurt either,we need weak slow mid fielders like a hole in the head!
Ive got a pic of the supposed Adidas kits for next season they are a massive improvement on any kits Reebok have produced. Does anyone know for defo if these kits are going to be produced?
I wish the lad really well and i can see him bing a very good player in the future but lets not talk about him as something he's not. Not just yet anyway.....and for about the 1000th time next seasons kit is le coq sportif. The adidas kits are completely bogus.
The lad lookd very mature on the pitch and sounds as mature off it. He needs time to develop quietly and yes, they should not over-hype him, putting too much pressure on him.
Manchester City need the Academy or similar youth set up to bring on players into the first team squad.Until they get unlimited transfer funds this is how they will have to operate.Ferguson does not like the Academy system as it clips his wings a bit too much.Rules and regulations whatever would we do without them.Anyway, utd are in the position now where they can compete for most players in the world and Ferguson just sees the Academy as a drain on his transfer resouce which is probably why their team is doing so badly in the under 18's league and ours is top by 18 points.
If Ireland is fit, I would put Johnson on the bench and drop Dabo. Johnson will be very good in future, but is a bit green yet. However he is still better than Dabo, and we could bring him on second half if we need a goal. Pearce should also start Abdoun on the bench in place of Corradi. Why play Vass or Samaras as a winger, when we have a classy young winger available in the squad. That would laso be a more attacking squad. A point won't be much good anyway. Lets go for the win. Another 3 points and we would virtually be safe this year. We could then play Charlton without any pressure.
I also think (pray) Mpenza will play against Newcastle. He has probably just spent a few days feeling stiff as a board after his first proper 90 minutes in months.
For the people out there who are more worried about the badge on their replica shirt than Premiership survival and the club's future, aren't Reebok, Adidas & Le Coq Sportif all brands of the same company ? Come on guys, get a life.
I think it's great that we have another graduate from the academy that looks to have a bright future, how about this for a line up against Newcastle: Isaksson(GK); Onuha, Dunne, Distin (3 at back); Richards & Ball (wing backs); Barton, Ireland and Johnson (midfield); Sturridge & Mpenza (strikers). I would then have the likes of Weaver, Vassell, Hamman, Miller, Samaras on the bench. It may not happen too soon but that would be 6 academy graduates in the starting 11 which I think would be excellent for the club. Come on City!
Oh dear..If you lot played in
skyblue pink and yellow border kits! you would still
are a very poor team..Stop moaning and fill all the gaps
at PREFAB SOULESS..And leave
the lad alone or he will join
all your other so called world beaters..Most of em are
at TIMBUCKTO ROVERS !!! And
all you ENVY BUGS ? nearly
all of you ! Its only a game
you cant help supporting a
taam of WIN NOWTS..can you...
God its hot here where is the
Chang love..Wembley here we
come..UP FOR CUP..Regards Art
Dawkins .. THAIART..Wish you
were here...AND PIGS CAN !!
arthurdawkins. SEE THE TABLETS STILL NOT WORKING. !