DEDRYCK Boyata aims to graduate from the Premier League’s finest finishing school with flying colours.

Manchester City’s 20-year-old defender sealed a season-long loan at Wanderers yesterday, going straight into the squad to face Liverpool at Anfield this evening.

Daniel Sturridge and Jack Wilshere have already shown what benefits a spell under Owen Coyle’s tutelage can have for a player’s career, and that is exactly whose path the Belgium international intends to follow as he became the club’s sixth signing of the transfer window.

“I’m really looking forward to working with the manager,” he said. “I have seen how he got the best out of young players like Jack Wilshere and Daniel Sturridge.

“I am only 20 years old and I’m still learning and trying to improve. To come to Bolton Wanderers for a loan period is a great opportunity to do that.”

Boyata could make his debut against the Reds should Gretar Steinsson fail to recover in time from a badly bruised foot.

But there was no sign yesterday that Boyata’s City team-mate Shaun Wright-Phillips had made up his mind after extensive negotiations with Bolton, QPR and Stoke City.

Boyata made his senior international debut for Belgium against Austria last year and chose Bolton ahead of the likes of Everton, Blackburn Rovers and West Brom.

Coyle was happy to land his man after biding his time over the summer.

“I am delighted that we have completed the loan deal for Dedryck, because there was interest from a number of other clubs in taking him on loan.

“To bring in a player of Dedryck's age and quality is something, as we have shown before, that we like to do.

“He is a tremendous addition to the squad and his versatility means that he can operate at centre-half and full-back. He has got pace and power and is a flexible and dynamic player.”

Standing at 6ft 2in tall, Boyata has made 22 appearances for Manchester City, four of which came in the Blues' successful FA Cup run last season.

He also played the full 90 minutes for Roberto Mancini's team in the final fixture of the 2010/11 Premier League season at the Reebok Stadium last May.

Boyata moved to English football in 2007 from hometown club FC Brussels, where his talent and performances in the club's youth setup caught the attention of Manchester City scouts.

He won the FA Youth Cup the following year as City beat Chelsea in the final over two legs, before enhancing his credentials as a regular feature in the reserve setup.

Boyata made his first team debut against Middlesbrough in a third round FA Cup tie in 2010. He has since gone on to play against the likes of Juventus, Lech Poznan and SV Salzburg in the Europa League.