England's Nico O'Reilly speaks on his breakthrough

Nico O’Reilly had no idea what to expect when he boarded the plane to the USA with his Manchester City teammates this summer – and what followed was the stuff of dreams.

The 19 year old midfielder has prepared for this month’s Elite League double-header against Turkiye and Romania by shining on his club’s pre-season tour across the pond – and then making his competitive debut for City’s senior team in the Community Shield against their greatest rivals from across the way.

Little wonder he was pinching himself before his return to Manchester from last week’s game in Istanbul as Paul Nevin’s squad tackle two Elite League clashes at the start of the new international season.

“I think it has sunk in now, but it took a while,” he says. “I went [to the USA] and wasn’t expecting any minutes, anything like that. Then Pep gave me a chance in the first game, I did well, and he put his trust in me again. I had some good games, some good performances.

“Is it less pressurised on a tour like that away from England? I don’t think so. To be honest, I don’t really feel pressure from the media or anything like that – I’m just zoned in, focusing on the game. I can’t really worry about stuff that’s going on off the pitch, I just get on with it.”

It’s the kind of attitude that has served him well in a career that has seen him emerge as one of City’s latest young talents to break through. O’Reilly has been a key member of the club’s U18 and elite development squad since breaking through during the 2021-22 season.

City manager Pep Guardiola was clearly taking note, inviting O’Reilly for warm-weather training in Abu Dhabi in December 2022. By April 2024, he was on the bench for the club’s Premier League clash with Brighton & Hove Albion.

“From someone like Pep, the best manager in the world, for him to have trust in you to go out there and play really means a lot,” says O’Reilly.

“I grew up a City fan, I’ve been there all my life, since I was a baby! It’s a bit of a split in my family [between City and United] – but my mum and my sister are big City fans so it was all okay.

“It was obviously my debut but I’ve played thousands of games to get to this point. It was just a game on a much bigger stage. My family have done so much to help me, so to have them there was very special. They were super proud.”

There is, of course, a big difference between running out in a pre-season friendly for your childhood club, and being picked for the starting XI against Manchester United in the Community Shield at Wembley.

“It was crazy – there were 78,000 people there,” he says. “To make my competitive debut, at Wembley, in a derby, it was a lot of pressure but I think I play better under the pressure. I just loved it and I was so grateful for the opportunity. I just took it all in.

“I had played in front of 50 or 60,000 people on that pre-season tour in the US, but the biggest crowd I had played in before that was probably 15,000. It was a big jump.”

It might have been a sizeable leap, but it’s one that O’Reilly took in his stride. That experience will make him a player to watch in the Elite League against Romania at Edgeley Park on Tuesday evening.

“The new competition {for the ELS} gives the team and also yourself more of a drive to win – you always want to do your best for England, but knowing there’s something on it gives it an extra edge,” says O’Reilly.

“I played at Edgeley Park last season and it’s a great place to play. I’m really looking forward to it.”

You can read the full feature with Nico in the official match programme for Tuesday's game with Romania in Stockport. Pick up a copy at Edgeley Park, where the game kicks-off at 7.30pm BST.