Manchester and the surrounding area have always been blessed with hugely talented siblings who have helped keep the city on the map; the Gallaghers and the Nevilles come to mind. But they are not alone. Past, present and future, Manchester will forever be a home for talent and success.

You would have to go back more than 80 years to the last time Manchester United named a matchday squad that didn’t feature any academy graduates, while today’s Manchester City have England sensation Phil Foden beating his flag after growing up in nearby Stockport. Cole Palmer is also waiting backstage.

Beyond that, there is hope England U21 newcomer James McAtee will join them. Pep Guardiola is a huge admirer of the 19-year-old and, following some speculation, he has put pen to paper on a deal that will keep him at the Etihad until 2026.

READ MORE: James McAtee milestone proves he’s ready for Manchester City’s next leg

McAtee has no better example to follow than Foden. 80% of City’s current workforce grew up in or near the region. This will only strengthen the bond between the club and the fanbase.

Prospects such as McAtee are getting the best football training they could want, although the majority will eventually have to leave the Etihad Stadium to make a name for themselves. It’s the harsh reality that comes with the territory, but elite routes are no panacea for young players.

Having already dealt with question marks over his status, McAtee understands this more than most and has developed a resolve for the challenges that will come and come his way. Born and raised in Salford, McAtee is the younger of two footballing brothers who continue to work their way to opposite ends of the football pyramid. His older brother, John, was the driving force behind Grimsby’s promotion to the Football League on the first attempt.

With 13,000 traveling Grimsby supporters, James became an honorary sailor last Sunday when John and his brave teammates defied all odds to seal a momentous promotion. In all three play-offs, Grimsby trailed before hitting the winners in overtime; the last of which came at the London Stadium.

James celebrated as much as John, who rose through the Shrewsbury youth ranks and played at Scunthorpe before moving to Grimsby last summer. His signing was the catalyst and James couldn’t be prouder.

Assigned to filming duties in the field as he joined John in showing off the trophy, James simply couldn’t hide his joy for his older brother – as a succession of Instagram posts show – and you just have to going through each of their social media profiles to understand how important family is to the McAtees.

John, 22, repays the favor and often refers to his younger brother as “starboy”. What would, no doubt, have started as a rowdy sibling “rivalry” in school days has blossomed into a beautiful sibling relationship; giving the proud family behind them even more reason to follow their respective journeys.

As many of us can remember, James would have grown up mixing it up with older players such as John and that foot would have paved the way for his early success. Healthy competition reigns in all families, not to mention those who can now boast of two professionals who each shine in their own environment.

James stopped filming his promotion-winning brother and took the phone to his real focus when the England U21s first came calling this week. Another observational ability followed – albeit with three Lions stitched to his chest – but there will be plenty of opportunity for him to take center stage in the months and years to come.

The fact that he gave up the spotlight for his brother speaks volumes about the humility that runs through his character and that humble nature, along with some brotherly lessons, will put James in perfect stead as he strives to put Salford and , by association itself, Manchester on the map in its own guise.

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