THE present may look a little shaky but Manchester City's immediate and long term futures are in good hands.

City are going down, barring a miracle, but the prospect of life in the First Division isn't sparking thoughts of jumping ship.

Already almost a full team of top Blues have pledged their future to the club in the form of Danny Tiatto, Paulo Wanchope, Jeff Whitley, Alfie Haaland, Nicky Weaver, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Steve Howey and Mark Kennedy. And they are the only ones who have been asked.

So if City go down, they will do so with a playing strength - as well as a financial strength - far in advance of the last time they were in the First Division.

There is further cause for optimism when you look further ahead with the Blues youth set-up promising to serve up more top class talent.

Former City playing legend Dennis Tueart, the Blues' director with special responsibility for the club's Youth Academy, is touting three youngsters as stars of the future.

He believes 18-year-old winger Chris Shuker, midfielder Terry Dunfield, 19, and striker Leon Mike, 19, will be joining Wright-Phillips and Jeff Whitley into the first team squad sooner or later.

He said: "Dunfield is aggressive with a good engine although he does not get enough goals, Shuker is an all-action winger who will improve no end and Mike is an out-and-out goal scorer."

City's run-in: May 7 Ipswich Town (a) 8pm (SKY), 19 Chelsea (h).