AS they this week proudly unveiled multi-million pound plans for a new Academy centre aimed at creating a dynasty of homegrown talent, proud Manchester City officials were unanimous in hailing Barcelona as the model to which all clubs should aspire.

But Leon Osman believes the Eastlands outfit need only look down the M62 for a more straightforward example of how to truly harness local potential.

“You can have the best facilities in the world but if you are not going to give the time to embed the players, then they are never going to come through,” says the Everton midfielder.

“The facilities will help only so much, it is about a philosophy and the amount of time the manager is going to give young players.”

Having himself come through Everton’s Academy system, Osman has first-hand experience of the opportunities youngsters are afforded at Goodison.

With City, at least for now, seemingly spending their way into the Premier League’s highest echelons, the prospects for young Mancunians are significantly reduced.

Indeed, while Osman could be joined by fellow local boys Tony Hibbert, Ross Barkley and Jack Rodwell in the starting line-up at Eastlands for today’s early Premier League kick-off, City are likely to call on no homegrown talent.

“Any younger player who is trying to break into the first team has a lot better chance of doing it at Everton than Manchester City because at Everton we don’t have a massive squad and loads of money to bring in new players,” says Osman.