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Wright-Phillips: I play like dad but finish better than gramps
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Matthew Storey
LiveScore
D'Margio Wright-Phillips shares a laugh with dad Shaun and grandad Ian
D'Margio Wright-Phillips shares a laugh with dad Shaun and grandad Ian

Stoke winger D’Margio Wright-Phillips is full of the exuberance of youth ahead of the trip to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup fifth round.

Son of former Manchester City and Chelsea star Shaun and grandson of ex-Arsenal and Palace striker Ian Wright, 20-year-old Wright-Phillips comes from a family of footballers.

There is plenty of interest in him as a result and the attacker has already made a big claim about his abilities.

He knows his style is closer to his dad's but reckons he is better at taking chances than his grandad — despite Wrighty's goalscoring exploits for club and country.

Wright-Phillips told The Times: "It’s the low centre of gravity, the confidence to try and take on a player [that make me similar to my dad].

"With my grandad, I’d say I think I’ve got better finishing than him.

"I’ve watched a lot of my dad’s YouTube videos and a lot of my grandad’s — even my uncle [Bradley Wright-Phillips] — and it’s just amazing to see, because one day I would hope for my family to do that with me."

Coming into a sport where your dad, uncle and grandfather have all had such success could be daunting for a youngster.

But the latest Wright-Phillips to try his luck in the professional game is paying little notice to the extra attention on him.

He added: "There is always going to be pressure in football no matter what sort of family you’ve got and, to be honest, I don’t really feel the pressure.

"To me, it’s just my dad, my grandad and my uncle but I’m definitely aware of it."

D'Margio Wright-Phillips celebrates his first senior goal for Stoke against Fulham
D'Margio Wright-Phillips celebrates his first senior goal for Stoke against Fulham

It was the FA Cup third-round tie with Leyton Orient that saw Wright-Phillips handed his debut by Potters boss Michael O’Neill.

Unsurprisingly, he was quickly on the phone to Shaun and Ian looking for advice ahead of the clash.

He added: "It gave me goosebumps, I was very happy, just a ball of enjoyment inside of me.

"As we got out of the meeting room I took a deep breath and gave most of my close family a call to say I was starting.

"They both just said, ‘Listen, when you get on the pitch just enjoy it. That’s it. Just enjoy it, go out and do your stuff’.

"I was a bit nervous but I couldn’t wait to get on the pitch and show what I’m about and make the most of it. I spoke to my dad afterwards in the car park and he was just very happy."

After netting his first goal in a 3-2 defeat to Fulham in the Championship in January, Wright-Phillips will be hoping for another at Palace tonight.

And if he does score on the pitch where his grandad's pro career began, it will be another memorable night for the family.

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