Paolo Fernandes: Manchester City young striker looking to follow in footsteps of Sergio Aguero

MANCHESTER CITY had too much for a Tottenham in their Premier League 2 clash on Friday night with Pep Guardiola’s second string getting the better of the home side with goals from Javairo Dilrosun and Paolo Fernandes.

Here, SunSport profiles the 18-year-old striker Fernandes on his quest to rise to the top.

Who are ya?

The Spanish Man City attacker grabbed loads of attention in September when he scored two brilliant goals against Sunderland in the Premier League 2 clash at the Etihad.

The stellar strikes got plenty of YouTube hits but there was very little sign of that super skill on Friday, until he grabbed his goal. When City signed him as a 15-year-old from Real Zaragoza it looked a coup but he looked frustrated playing as a lone striker and had to keep dropping deep, too deep.

Style of play?

He is short and stocky like Sergio Aguero and makes darting runs across the backline but he drops miles deeper than the Argentina marksman. At times he went from looking like a false-nine to a fake centre-half.

The stunners he bagged against the Black Cats would not look out of place in the Premier League but he’s unlikely to get that sort of time stepping up to that level. His finish in the second half was ruthless, no touch needed after Brahim Diaz had done the hard work.

He had to do a lot of unforgiving running into the channels at White Hart Lane, it didn’t look his game, but he worked hard and helped his side ground out a win.

What's the deal?

There’s little speculation around Fernandes, when you already play at one of the world’s riches clubs, not many others can afford to lure you away. City's academy is so brilliant he's unlikely to want for anything and with a strong Spanish contingent on both the playing and coaching staff he should feel right at home.

Room to improve?

If he’s going to persist with penalties he’ll have to put a lot more disguise on them. He opened his body up plenty as he run up to his spot-kick and the Spurs keeper read him like The Beano.

His right foot might need some work but it might be just that his left foot is so tasty it does its sidekick a disservice. If he is going to play as a central striker he will have to curb his tendency to drop too deep into midfield to look for the ball, it leaves no options in attack and clogs the already busy City centre.

However, if his position for the win over Spurs was just a stopgap while in-form forward Lukas Nmecha was absent, and he will return to his midfield spot, you can see him having a greater effect on games especially if he can link up more with Diaz.

Verdict

It’s no great insult to suggest Fernandes’ chances of becoming a regular Man City forward are limited. After Aguero they have the funds to go out and buy anyone they want and the bosses at the Etihad have plenty of faith in Kelechi Iheanacho.

You can’t imagine the classy teenager dropping down the leagues and firing goals in for Bristol City like Tammy Abraham is doing. But a loan back to Spain might help his progress.

On this showing he looked like a midfielder being asked to do a job up top – especially with City’s usual goal getter Nmecha being absent for the trip to north London.

But his goal was a glimpse of his class and you imagine he can do the business in any attacking role, like a lot of City’s current first-team creators.