UEFA Champions League: Ball Boy Just 6 Years Ago, Manchester City's Micah Hamilton Scores on Senior Debut

Six years ago, Micah Hamilton was operating as a ball boy at Manchester City when he was pictured getting instructions off Pep Guardiola to help speed up play.

On Tuesday, he was scoring in the Champions League on his senior debut for the club.

Hamilton, an attacking midfielder who turned 20 last month, demonstrated his potential by jinking inside then outside a defender before firing a rising shot into the roof of the net to give City a 1-0 lead at Red Star Belgrade in the 19th minute.

Born and brought up in Manchester, Hamilton joined City at the age of 7 and has progressed through the age groups at the club.

He has been an unused substitute this season for games against Newcastle in the League Cup and Young Boys in the Champions League.

“I was delighted to score on my debut. It still hasn’t sunk in yet – still I’m taking it in,” Hamilton said.

Pep, who did not remember Hamilton as a ball boy, recalled their meeting when showed an image of the interaction.

“I didn’t know,” he said.

“Six years ago? Wow. What a goal, eh! I’m so happy for him. He’s training quite often with us, we saw his skills up front 1-v-1 and he made a fantastic goal and penalty,” Pep added.

In a game that meant little to City and nothing to the Group G standings, manager Pep Guardiola made nine changes to the side who played in the 2-1 Premier League win at Luton Town on Sunday. City’s league-leading scorer Erling Haaland did not play at Luton due to a foot injury and did not travel to Belgrade.

But on a terrific night for City’s academy programme, young strikers Hamilton and Bobb filled in admirably in Haaland’s absence.

Outclassed in the first half, Belgrade made things interesting in the second to the delight of the raucous crowd who barely stopped singing all night.

City keeper Stefan Ortego was forced to make two terrific saves shortly after the break before Hwang pulled one back in the 76th minute and Katai scored in injury time.

Manchester City stretched their unbeaten run in Europe to 20 games with a 3-2 Champions League victory over Red Star Belgrade.

(With inputs from Agencies)