Johnno earns Pearce praise

Last updated : 20 April 2007 By Ben Collins
The 19-year-old Academy graduate made his first-team debut in the dismal 4-0 defeat at Wigan in October but since being handed his second senior start at Middlesbrough last month he has been rewarded with a prolonged run in the starting line-up.

The Urmston lad made his sixth straight start against Arsenal on Tuesday and continued his rapid development with another impressive display, despite City going down 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium.

"I thought Michael was outstanding again at Arsenal and that he is improving by the game," Pearce told the Manchester Evening News.

"You have to take care of youngsters the best you can, but he continues to put on sterling performances for the team.

"We have high expectations of Johnno, and the more experience he gets at places such as Arsenal and against the likes of Liverpool, the better. It can only help him.

"The level of his performances have surprised me but I knew how mentally strong he was before I even selected him for the first team.

"Michael just gets on with his work and is a professional in every sense of the word. He has an old head on young shoulders and he works hard at both ends of the pitch."

With Johnson just the latest quality youngster to drop off the City Academy's production line, Pearce is hoping he will help form the core of the Blues line-up for years to come.

"There could come the day when he plays alongside Stevie Ireland and Joey Barton in an all-homegrown midfield and behind them could be Nedum Onuoha and Micah Richards," he said.

"We have a decent crop of young players, but I feel as though we just need to add to what we have got and we can have a decent go."