WRIGHT STUFF
Proud Arsenal legend Ian Wright’s GRANDSON D’Margio, 20, makes pro debut for Stoke in FA Cup against Leyton Orient
ARSENAL legend Ian Wright's GRANDSON has made his professional debut for Stoke in their FA Cup clash at home to Leyton Orient.
D'Margio Wright-Phillips - son of Shaun - is now the THIRD generation of his family to make it in the professional game, with uncle Bradley also enjoying a long playing career.
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The young winger, 20, has been turning heads in the Potters' Under-23s, scoring four times and laying on four assists in 12 matches since joining from Manchester City.
Wright-Phillips Jr has very much been on boss Michael O'Neill's radar.
And he was given the nod for the FA Cup third-round game against League Two side Leyton Orient.
Proud grandad Wright shared his delight on Twitter, posting a hatful of starry-eyed emojis after the team-sheet was shared.
Wright won the FA Cup twice with Arsenal, in 1993 and 1998, while Shaun Wright-Phillips got his hands on the famous trophy in 2007 with Chelsea.
It would be a huge ask for Stoke to lift the Cup this season - despite being given a favourable third-round draw and seeing a host of giant-killings in Saturday's action.
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But the future looks bright for D'Margio, who revealed he learned a lot from playing alongside Raheem Sterling while at the Etihad youth ranks.
Wright-Phillips Jr said: "Sterling scores goals and they’re ones that matter.
"He’s done phenomenally for the past three, four years in his position.
"That’s what I can kind of relate to and off the pitch, he’s such a nice guy and genuine.
"He’s always working hard. That’s what kind of drove me.
“I trained with him a couple of times and learned a few things off him – and that’s why my left foot’s better.”
Meanwhile, boss O'Neill recently hinted D'Margio was in line for more first-team action.
Shortly before Christmas, the Stoke manager claimed: “Young D’Margio Wright-Phillips has trained a lot with the first team recently.
"He’s another forward that is a little bit different from what we have at this minute in time.
"We’re excited by his progress.
"D’Margio gives us something to think about because he’s a little bit different from a number of attacking players we have.
"He’s a little bit smaller but he’s sharper, more intricate, more technical than a lot of the others as well.
“He may well get his opportunity over the next few games.”
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PRESSURE
But grandad Wright hopes D'Margio can play without pressure - with both himself and son Shaun winning the Premier League during their careers.
Wright claimed: “I think about it all the time. The pressure of a grandad, a dad, an uncle all playing in the Premier League.
"Dad and grandad won the Premier League.
“Now people are seeing what’s happening with him.”
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But proud dad Shaun added: “I’m more on the positive side.
“I just told him the same thing you told me: ‘Don’t worry about the pressure, we are different players and you will create your own path.’”
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