16-year-old Kaden Braithwaite was a shock inclusion within the Manchester Metropolis beginning lineup to face Watford on Tuesday night.
The teenager lined up alongside veteran centre-back John Stones within the coronary heart of Metropolis’s defence, enjoying 76 minutes of the 2-1 on the Etihad Stadium.
So, who’s he?
Here is every part it is advisable know concerning the teenager.
Aged simply 16 years and 229 days, Braithwaite grew to become the third-youngest participant to ever play for Metropolis on Tuesday night, lining up from the off towards Watford within the third spherical of the Carabao Cup.
And except for a scare when he was outmuscled by Kwadwo Baah within the lead as much as an finally disallowed purpose, the defender performed fairly rattling nicely.
In his 75 minutes of motion, Braithwaite accomplished 95% of his 65 go makes an attempt, gained 100% of his tackles and recovered possession for his workforce on three events. That is actually a efficiency to be pleased with for the younger man.
As we have seen over one of the best a part of the final two seasons, Pep Guardiola loves defenders who can fill in in a number of positions throughout video games. So the truth that Braithwaite is a left-footed centre-back who can even play left-back will definitely be music to the Metropolis supervisor’s ears.
We might think about Guardiola will likely be fairly happy with the truth that the younger defender could be very completed in possession too. Even on his senior debut, the 16-year-old was brimming with confidence on the ball and often wished to be in possession – as his 77 touches and 17 passes into the ultimate third towards Watford attest.
Braithwaite has been on the books at Metropolis since under-nine stage, working his means relatively rapidly by way of the academy ranks in recent times to turn out to be the membership’s under-18s vice-captain at simply 16 years previous.
The teenager was considered one of 12 Metropolis Academy gamers to signal scholarships forward of the 2024/25 marketing campaign, earlier than being known as up senior coaching this previous week.
In only one coaching session on Monday, Braithwaite managed to persuade Guardiola handy him his senior debut. That is fairly rattling spectacular in case you ask us.
Due to his confidence in possession of the ball, his capability to play as both a centre-back or left-back when required, and the truth that he is left-footed, the closest comparability we will assume is present Metropolis star Nathan Ake.