Marcos Lopes is tipped to be one of Manchester City's breakout players next season.

City have fast-tracked an exciting Portuguese youngster into their pre-season tour squad - and he could become a record-breaker in the new season.

Tactical coach David Platt made it plain that this was not just a case of giving the teenager experience.

"We have not brought Marcos out just to make the numbers up but because everything we have seen and been told from within the club suggested he could cope at this level," Platt told the Manchester Evening News.

"He has had a couple of days on the training pitch and he has coped well - though at 16 we would not push him along in the same way as we push the seniors along.

"Marcos is an attacking midfielder with a strong left foot.

"We have our eye on the ball with him and he has impressed the other players. He is comfortable on the ball and doesn't look 16.

"The boy has taken well to the work and he wouldn't be at our club now if we didn't think there is the opportunity for him to develop into a first team player and to do that here at City you have to be talented. But we will take it slowly with him."