TOMMY DOYLE made his Premier League debut for Manchester City at the age of 18 to follow in the footsteps of BOTH of his grandads.
The young midfielder replaced goalscorer Riyad Mahrez for the final 15 minutes of an impressive 5-0 win at the Etihad.
Tommy Doyle made his Premier League debut for Man City against NewcastleCredit: Reuters
And he continued an incredible family legacy by running out in the sky blue of City.
Both Mike Doyle and Glyn Pardoe represented the Manchester club during their illustrious careers, with Pardoe’s daughter having married Doyle’s son.
Doyle Snr – who died in 2011 – played 570 times in all competitions for City, scoring 41 times from defence.
And Pardoe made nearly 400 appearances for the club – and remains the club’s youngest ever player after his debut, aged 15 years and 314 days, in 1962.
And they BOTH clinched the league, FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup Winners Cup medal – playing alongside each other for 11 years.
Pardoe even scored the winner in the iconic 1970 League Cup win.
Glyn Pardoe, Doyle’s grandad, was a Man City iconCredit: Rex Features
Mike Doyle, Tommy’s OTHER grandad was also a Man City legendCredit: Rex Features
But he tragically passed away earlier this year, aged 73 – with Tommy paying tribute to his “hero”.
Doyle Jnr tweeted: “Forever my hero! I love you so much. Rest easy.”
And Pardoe had revealed his pride at Doyle’s progress just a year earlier – ahead of the FA Youth Cup final.
He beamed: “It’s been just brilliant watching Tommy and the team do so well.
“I will be there to watch the final and I can’t wait and I would be so chuffed if they could win.
“I got to the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup when I was playing but never the final so Tommy has already done one better and if we win I’ll probably never hear the last of it!
“He’s a great lad and he’s been brought up around football what with having his two grandads play for the club.
“He’s gone to the ground since he was five and I think he’s been at the Academy since a similar age.
“I’ve seen some players in my time, but I’ve never seen anyone with a better attitude than Tom.
“I thought mine was good but his is different class and he’s so confident – not cocky – and he can play.
“He gets on with all the lads – they are all his mates and he’s very humble.
“He just needs that little bit of luck now to take him on.”
Doyle was thrown straight into the action after coming on at the EtihadCredit: Photographer
And Doyle earned that slice of luck after Guardiola brought him off the bench for the final few moments at the Etihad on Wednesday night.
City’s established stars seemed keen to get the ball to Doyle’s feet as often as possible as he eased his way into Premier League life.
Doyle will next get his chance when Man City take on Brighton Saturday July 11.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
