Nico O’Reilly to Start in Community Shield Clash

19-year-old Nico O’Reilly will make his senior debut and start for Manchester City in the 2024 Community Shield clash against Manchester United at Wembley on Sunday. The academy product was named on the teamsheet by Pep Guardiola after catching the manager’s eye during the team’s USA tour. Alongside the 19-year-old, James McAtee will make his first senior competitive start for the team in multiple substitute appearances.

The Premier League champions Manchester City are seeking a seventh Community Shield title for only the first time since forever. The table-toppers have been unable to win the title in their last three attempts despite their dominance. The match against United, which is the biggest final in the history of football, will be the event where O’Reilly, who has been excellent on tour with the team in the USA, will dazzle.

It will be an event where everyone should get quickly. It is more than just the campaign curtain-raiser for the Premier League season. It is a series of vignettes on the future talents of English football matched against the biggest and most soulless autotune hit of the last decade, as Pep met Ralf yet again.