Leeds United’s trip to Berlin highlights that Heskey may not be the only big name to emerge from the clash

Heskey is a household name in English football and while he made headlines again against Leeds United on Friday night, there were 11 names in pink who could yet earn the same status. Manchester City, led by Emile’s son Jaden Heskey, lifted the FA Youth Cup at the Etihad Stadium on Friday night with a 4-0 win over the Whites.

Grant was another well-known name in the home ranks. True, their goalkeeper is the son of ex-Sheffield Wednesday and Burnley stopper Lee. In a squad as well-funded, scouted and recruited as City’s under-18s, there are bound to be some players who go on to play at the highest level.

Leeds Under-18s boss Rob Etherington does not want a single final defeat to suggest there will be no big names of the future plying their trade with the Whites. These names will fly to Berlin next week after being invited to Germany for a tour following their FA Youth Cup success this season.

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“Well, you might look back in a few years and see some household names who have worn Leeds United shirts, so certainly don’t rule that out given the result,” he said. “We haven’t come this far in 27 years, but we’ve always produced players.

“The message remains exactly the same. We play our way, we develop players our way, that objective has never changed. It’s to produce players to play for the first team, to help players be the best.

“The messages for the next few days remain the same. We fly to Berlin next week. We were invited to an under-18 tournament. That’s because of the success they’ve had.

“The connection they made with everyone watching, so that’s something to be really proud of. Again, this is to be expected. Then they will rest a bit and then come back because the trip was never about winning the Youth Cup, the trip helped them be the best they can be.”

After the defeat, Etherington made it a point to gather all the players and staff in one of the corners surrounded by away supporters at the Etihad Stadium. The meeting was huge and important for the head coach to make a final address to all after a journey that took them 90 minutes from their first FA Youth Cup in 27 years at Elland Road.

“We’ve been together throughout the journey we started together, we finished together,” he said. “Nothing could have happened to stop that because we are Leeds United and it’s what makes us, that unity.

“Leaving it all on the pitch, representing all the fans that have come is absolutely fantastic. The trip was more about football. It’s more about winning the competition.

“It was about connecting the players to the club, the people they represent, to the competition, how they can inspire younger players and people in the city to go and achieve what they have achieved. So we’re disappointed with the result, but they’ve pulled it off and nobody can take it away from them.”