Manchester City supporters may be about to see a clear and consistent breakthrough into the first-team picture for James McAtee, according to Pep Guardiola.
The 22-year-old is currently in the middle of his first full season embedded into Manchester City’s first-team squad, having completed two campaigns on-loan at Sheffield United in the Championship and Premier League.
With Pep Guardiola having been a key admirer of the player for a number of seasons, developing the England youth international at senior level with Manchester City has been a core task for the ongoing campaign.
And while opportunities have been severely limited thus far for McAtee across all competitions, the Salford-born playmaker has offered one goal in the UEFA Champions League away to Slovan Bratislava.
But with injuries mounting in the first-team squad and many of Guardiola’s players requiring more rotation and rest as fixtures continue to come thick and fast for the Premier League champions, some are wondering whether more chances for McAtee to shine could come soon.
Speaking during a recent media conference on the subject of James McAtee and whether he is ready to start for Manchester City given the ongoing injury and fitness struggles endured by the squad, Pep Guardiola insisted there is certainly the possibility.
“Yes, it can happen,” the 53-year-old told the media.
“We don’t have much players and it can happen,” he continued.
Guardiola closed by praising James McAtee’s readiness and availability, “Always it’s difficult when you don’t play much minutes but the rhythm and the pace was really, really good and of course, he’s there.”
James McAtee has previously admitted his belief that the ongoing campaign is now about learning from the very best players in world football, as opposed to starting every single game for the club.
Speaking in light of his first senior goal for Manchester City, coming in the UEFA Champions League earlier in the season, McAtee revealed, “Basically he [Pep Guardiola] is telling me to go and have fun – a bit more tactical but go and be myself and feel good about myself.”
Manchester City’s faith in the player was further highlighted during the summer months as the club rejected numerous high-profile offers for the player, with some understood to be worth in the region of £30 million.
