AFTER six years as City's Academy manager, Jim Cassell has seen dreams come true and evaporate for hundreds of kids at Platt Lane.

There is no magic formula to transform a talented 11-year-old into a professional footballer other than dedication and sheer hard work.

And even youngsters with those essential qualities may never make the grade at senior level.

"We have around 30 local scouts who watch kids playing for their school teams or in the parks at weekends," explains Cassell.

"From the age of nine upwards, the most promising of those youngsters are invited to train at our Academy in the evenings, and, when they are a little bit older, they also train during the day on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

"When they reach the age of 16 and their education is completed, the best of the bunch are taken on by the club on a full-time basis. In the past they were referred to as apprentices, but these days we call them `Scholars'.

"Of course. it is an achievement for any boy to come through the system and become a full-time Scholar. But even that is no guarantee that he will ever feature regularly in City's first team."

With so many hurdles to negotiate, Cassell is understandly reluctant to nominate any of the current Academy youngsters as future Premiership stars.

But back him into a corner, and Cassell is prepared to name seven talented teenagers.



KASPER SCHMEICHEL

"Kasper is now in his third year with us, and in one respect he's a bit of an oddity because we didn't collar him in our scouting network.

"Kevin Keegan rang me one day and said: `I think I've got a goalkeeper for you because Peter Schmeichel wants his lad to join City.' And you can't argue with a pedigree like that, can you?

"Kasper has only just turned 18 and is making terrific progress. He often trains with the first team and with specialised goalkeeping coach Tim Flowers, and I can see a big future for him at this club."



NEDUM ONUOHA

"He is a Harpurhey boy who was spotted playing five-a-side one Saturday morning on the pitches along Ten Acre Lane. He has already appeared in Kevin Keegan's team so I probably don't have to tell any City supporter about his physique and his strength. He's got the strength of an ox and he's mobile with it.

"What might surprise the fans is that Nedum wasn't a defender when we first brought him to the Academy. He was an out-and-out striker. He scored lots of goals in our junior teams before finding his niche in defence."

JONATHAN D'LARYEA

"Both he and his twin brother Nathan have been with us since they were 10 years old, after one of our local scouts watched them playing football near to their home in Crumpsall.

"I single out Jonathan only because he has made it this season into Kevin Keegan's senior squad, but don't rule out Nathan, because he's got the makings of a top-class centre-half.

"Jonathan is a perfect example of a modern day midfielder. His energy seems to be limitless. He can be in our penalty area one second and in the opponents' penalty area the next. He needs to impose himself a bit more on a match but, at 19, he's still learning his trade."

STEPHEN IRELAND

"Steve is an 18-year-old central midfielder from Cork who we have high hopes for. Kevin Keegan named in his squad for the recent trip to Middlesbrough. We are waiting for him to fill out because he needs to be a bit stronger, but there is no questioning his talent.

"He's not one of those up-and-at-em midfielders. He really is a creative young footballer with good feet and terrific vision. If he keeps listening and learning he could become very good."


MICAH RICHARDS

"Micah is from Leeds and won't be 17 until next summer, but he's scored 10 goals for our under 18s this season, which is an tremendous return from a midfielder against older opponents.

"He's got a fantastic engine. He will run all day without getting tired and he's particulary dangerous at set pieces because he's a great header of the ball.

"Of course, there is an obvious danger in building up a player who is still only 16, and Micah is nowhere near being the finished article. But the raw talent is there, and any midfielder whose goals are in double figures must have something about him."


WILLO FLOOD

"Willo is a Dubliner who has been at our Academy since leaving school, and from day one his attitude and his dedication have been fantastic.

"He's only just turned 19 but broke into Kevin Keegan's first team recently and certainly didn't let himself down.

"I've always thought that Willo had it in him to make his mark at senior level because of that tremendous attitude he's got to his work. He reminds me of Shaun Wright-Phillips at the same stage.

"Willo will do anything and everything to improve his game, and anyone with that determination and ambition has every chance."

DANIEL STURRIDGE

"Dan is only 15 and still at school, but most clubs know all about him already because of his performances with the England under-16s.

"If genes are anything to go by, then Dan has obviously got a great chance of making the grade. His dad, Michael, played for Birmingham, his uncle played for Derby. And another of the Sturridge clan, Dean, is at Wolves.

"We were able to bring him to our Academy because his parents moved to the Congleton area. We're delighted to have him because he has huge potential .

"He is a prolific goalscorer and you would back him every time in a one-to-one situation with an opposing defender.

"If he continues to work hard, he's got a wonderful chance of maintaining the Sturridge family tradition."

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