In appearing off the bench in Wednesday’s Premier League clash against Sheffield United, Wheatley took the distinct honour of becoming our landmark Academy alumnus, doing so with seven fellow graduates of the club’s youth system in the matchday squad.
An astonishing 101 of our 250 graduates have hailed from the Greater Manchester borough, with Wheatley born in Stockport. Of course, there is also a diversity among our alumni, too, with our graduates hailing from both across the country and, indeed, around the world, while all having differing stories to share in how they came to the point of making their debut.