The latest crop of academy stars are making a big impression, but how realistic is it that they could all follow in the footsteps of Phil Foden?

Cole Palmer has started on a similar path to the first team as Phil Foden at Manchester City – and it’s hoped that even more players are now set to follow in his footsteps.

Palmer has gone from a few minutes off the bench to the occasional start in the Carabao Cup and gaining experience on European away days with Pep Guardiola's senior squad, while all the time learning from the City coach and training alongside some of the game's greatest talents.

Whether the 19-year-old forward will reach the same heights as Foden remains to be seen – after all, the latter is becoming one of the standout players of his generation – but the roadmap is clear.

What is so exciting for the club – and an academy that is constantly developing young players – is that he is not making the journey alone. Coming up fast behind is a clutch of players with the quality and desire to make it to the very top.

Along with Palmer, several players from the youth sector will be in the squad for City’s Carabao Cup fourth-round clash away to West Ham on Wednesday night as their incredible record of not losing a tie in the competition ticks into its sixth year.

Palmer, CJ Egan-Riley, Josh Wilson-Esbrand, Luke Mbete, Finley Burns, Romeo Lavia and James McAtee all appeared in the 6-1 victory over League One Wycombe Wanderers in the previous round.

Guardiola is not one to go overboard about the potential of his youth players, as he knows how difficult the step-up can be. Those youngsters have to be better than the options he has available and when you look at the depth and quality of his first-team squad, it is some task to compete.

But the Catalan has not hidden his excitement at the potential of the players coming through at City.

"We also have Liam Delap, Sam Edozie, Luke Mbete, Romeo Lavia – five or six really good talented players in the academy,” Guardiola said after Palmer’s goal in the Champions League victory over Club Brugge. "If they continue to be humble and work, they can be important for Manchester City."