JACOB DAVENPORT played a tiny part in Manchester City’s greatest moment.
The midfielder was a ball-boy for that unforgettable final-day win over QPR in 2012, when Sergio Aguero famously scored in stoppage-time to win the Premier League title.
Davenport has since gone on to train with his heroes as he progressed through the ranks at the Etihad.
And the 19-year-old now hopes his recent loan move to Burton can put him on the path to one day playing a more active role in making City history.
The Manchester-born ace said: “I was on the halfway line and it was the best day ever. When Aguero scored, the players celebrated just in front of me — but I was in the crowd celebrating!
“There was a guy who had me on his shoulders. Everyone was just jumping all over each other.
“I felt sick and nervous going into that game. I was a ball-boy all that season and then the next year I did it again, even though I was technically too old to do it.
“Because I was a City fan, I just asked to do it again!”
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Davenport comes from a family of staunch City supporters and remembers being on his dad’s lap at Maine Road for his first game, aged just three.
Playing above his age group came naturally to him, as it is what he used to do with his brother and mates around the parks and streets of Manchester.
As a first-year City scholar three years ago, Davenport won Players’ Player of the Year, Manager’s Player of the Year, Scholar of the Year and England youth recognition.
The following season, a hamstring injury stunted his progress.
But over the last year he has kicked on massively, training many times with City’s first team before his switch to Championship Albion.
And the softly spoken starlet has even caught the eye of Etihad manager Pep Guardiola for his calmness on the ball.
Davenport added: “I do still feel very passionate about City when I watch them.
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“I’m still screaming at the telly, as I did when they beat Basel on Tuesday. But now I’ve been around them it changes a bit — you want to be in that squad.
“At first I was like, ‘Wow, I’m actually going to be training with these people I’ve idolised growing up’.
“Training with Sergio was surreal, after what’s he done for the club. But over the last year I’ve trained with them quite a lot really. The intensity is so different.
“More is expected but it’s enjoyable, they all make you feel welcome.
“The first-team players told me to work hard, not to get above my station and keep doing what I’m doing.
“The manager had a word with some of us. He says we have to be confident and stick to his ways, which is the academy way.
“Keeping it on the ground, back-foot receiving, one or two touch.
“Simple play really, it’s the most effective type of football. He’s positive with us.
“It’s definitely possible to make it into the first team. You can see he’s given quite a few of us a chance in the last year or so.
“He’s always got his eye on you, which is very encouraging.”
Composure is one thing but, in the rough and ready Championship, Davenport’s main aim is to toughen up. He has been thrown straight into the deep end by Brewers boss Nigel Clough, who signed him after his brother saw Davenport playing for City’s development squad against Leicester.
The youngster made his league debut taking on John Terry in front of 33,022 fans at Aston Villa a fortnight ago — and was struck by how much more aggressively team-mates talk to each other compared to Under-23 level, as well as the intensity.
Yet Davenport adapted well to his harsh surroundings and believes he has already seen enough from his team-mates to be confident they can avoid the drop, despite being bottom of the table at present.
Today, he will come up against Nottingham Forest and their impressive 18-year-old Ben Brereton, who tore Arsenal apart last month in the FA Cup.
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Davenport, whose City hero growing up was Brazilian Elano, added: “When you see people of your age doing so well, it only gives you an incentive to try to do it yourself.
“There’s always opportunities. If the manager believes in you, it’s about taking that opportunity.
“Most young players should be going on loan. There are some people who are just too comfortable.
“I’ve definitely coped better than I thought I would.
“You will just never know until you try.”
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