“The opportunities will come” – Rico Lewis reveals preferred Manchester City position after midfield stint | OneFootball

Manchester City youngster Rico Lewis is growing in stature for Pep Guardiola’s side.

The former City academy star broke into the first-team last season but made just 14 Premier League appearances.

Lewis broke into the Manchester City team as a full-back, mainly tucking into midfield, which became an influential moment in the campaign as John Stones perfected the role.

In the 2023/24 season however, the 18-year-old has begun a foray as a natural midfielder.

Central midfield may be City’s deepest area of the squad, but Lewis says he his willing to be patient to wait for a chance to become a mainstay in the centre of the park.

“That’s my favourite position I think, even [more than] coming inside from full back,” he told the Manchester Evening News.

“I think playing a bit higher up then defending as a two with Rodri is my favourite [role].

He continued:”I think it’s just all about patience for myself. There are so many world-class players in that dressing room so all I can do my best and learn.

“The opportunities will come and when they do I’ve got to take them. I just have to stay patient.”

Lewis started two straight games for Guardiola in the heart of the midfield, an impressive 3-1 away to RB Leipzig and a 1-0 loss to Arsenal last weekend, but he may be starting to make his mark in the role.

With a relatively thin squad to choose from, Gaurdiola could turn to Lewis as a midfielder more often, boosted by the fact that Kyle Walker has returned as an automatic starter on the right after an up-and-down 2022/23 campaign.

City have started the Premier League season in fine form, winning six of their first eight league games. But the frustrating loss at the Emirates on Sunday has left the reigning champions two points off of the top.

With the international break now underway, the Blues will have to wait until an October 21 visit from Brighton to get back on track as they look to march towards a record fourth straight Premier League title.