For Manchester City shot-stopper Angus Gunn, goalkeeping is all part of the family trade.
The son of revered Norwich City goalkeeper Bryan Gunn – the 19-year-old has established himself as a player of the future, securing a four-year contract extension on the back of a stellar season for the Premier League giants’ Elite Development Squad.
Gunn’s performances for the EDS – led by former France and Manchester City midfielder Patrick Viera – helped the side claim the inaugural Premier League International cup and reach the quarter finals of the UEFA Youth League.
The Norfolk-born youngster is now set to experience the inner sanctum of Manchester City’s first-team during its pre-season tour of Australia, and is excited about the prospect of working with the club’s senior goalkeepers.
“It’s my first time on pre-season with the first-team and when Patrick [Viera] told us we were going, we were all really excited,” Gunn said.
“It’s especially exciting to be in a country I’ve never been to – Willy Caballero and Richard Wright are great goalkeepers and it’s been good to work under Xabi the coach – they’re all helping me a lot.”
“Hopefully when Joe [Hart] gets here it’ll be another boost for us and personally, it’s someone who I really look up to.”
With Manchester City’s first pre-season hit out against Adelaide United considered to be a low-key encounter, Saturday’s inaugural City Football Group match against Melbourne City FC will provide a much sterner test for Manuel Pellegrini’s men.
Gunn’s EDS teammate James Horsfield spent some time training with Melbourne City FC last year and believes the midfielder’s experience with John van’t Schip’s men will prove to be important in preparations for the historical encounter.
“The game against Melbourne should be good, I remember last season Melbourne did their pre-season at Carrington and we trained quite close to them, so it’ll be good to see a few familiar faces again, so I hope it’s a good game for the people who are coming to watch.”
“I don’t know them too well but we’ve got James Horsfield with us who spent some time over here with them last season – he knows quite a few of them so hopefully he will be able to give us some insider information and tell us what they’re about.”
With fellow goalkeepers Joe Hart, Willy Caballero and Richard Wright to contend with for a place in the starting line-up, Gunn is keeping his feet firmly planted on the ground and is keen to enjoy every moment of his first senior pre-season tour.
“It would be nice to make my debut but just being here is a dream come true. I’m not expecting too much but obviously if it happened, I’d be delighted.”
