City fan Clayton desperate to earn bragging rights over Red Devils

AS a born and bred Manchester City fan, Adam Clayton knows all about the sense of elation that a derby win can trigger in the blue half of his home city.

The 21-year-old has fond memories of getting one over Manchester United both as a youth team player and as a supporter.

Tonight, however, Clayton is hoping to savour his first taste of the intense rivalry that exists between the Uniteds of Leeds and Manchester. And he can’t wait.

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He said: “I have known about the rivalry between the two clubs since I was tiny. I have watched Leeds and Man United games and they are always like Man United-Liverpool.

“So, I am sure the atmosphere will be brilliant if I get the chance to play and hopefully we can do well.

“You saw what it meant to them (fans) when they won 1-0 at Old Trafford and I think it would be even better if we could do it at Elland Road.

“They are one of our biggest rivals and if we were to get back to the Premier League then that would probably be the game every Leeds fan would look to say we want to win that game.”

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Clayton joined City at the age of just eight and stayed for the next 12 years before moving to Elland Road on a permanent deal a little over a year ago.

He had to be wait for his first team chance, the midfielder being loaned out to Peterborough United and MK Dons last season before making the breakthrough at the start of the this campaign.

Manager Simon Grayson is considering a couple of changes tonight and with Clayton having only just returned following a calf injury there is a chance he may be rested with Friday’s trip to Brighton in mind.

“I do not want to miss it,” he said. “I want to play in every game, even if it was Yeovil on a Tuesday night. It is Man United and no one wants to miss that game.

“The game is going to be brilliant. I know a lot of United fans so for me to get one over on them would be good and I’ll have the bragging rights for a bit until we get in the Premier League.”