Dexter Oliver scores seven in two games as Man City's teenage striker demands attention

Dexter Oliver has emerged as one of the most prolific young forwards in Manchester City’s academy this season, scoring seven goals across his last two Under-18 domestic fixtures to force himself into the conversation at first-team level.

The 17-year-old hit four goals in a 5-1 win over Leeds before following that up with a hat-trick in an extraordinary 8-5 victory at Stoke, announcing himself as a genuine threat in Lauris Coggin’s side, which has won all four of its domestic games this season. Oliver did not score in the UEFA Youth League defeat to Porto in midweek, but his output across the opening weeks of the campaign has been striking.

Oliver arrived at the Etihad from Tottenham last summer and managed five goals in 11 Under-18 appearances before injury cut his debut season short. Now fully fit and settled, he says the time out gave him perspective.

“I’m happy to score four but you can always score more,” he said after the Leeds win. “After the time out I had time to reflect, I’ve had time to grow as a person and a player. Coming to a new club isn’t the easiest thing — it is a different culture, different people — and it took time to settle in, but I feel like I am settled in now, so just onto the future.”

Oliver is not the only academy player attracting senior attention. City sporting director Hugo Viana was present at the Estadio Luis Filipe Menezes on Tuesday for the Youth League game against Porto, sitting alongside academy director Thomas Krucken. Viana was keeping a close eye on Kaden Braithwaite and Floyd Samba, both of whom have been promoted to train with the first team, while also assessing whether any other youngsters could make a similar step.

First-team staff were also in attendance, with Willy Caballero — a long-serving member of Enzo Maresca’s coaching setup — among those watching. Samba himself was named on the first-team bench at the weekend, underlining how quickly the pathway from academy to senior squad can move at City this season.

Alongside Oliver, Teddie Lamb and Xavier Parker have also contributed to City’s goal rush at Under-18 level, with Timeo Whisker adding a hat-trick of his own in the win at Stoke.