If a Manchester City youngster can’t get an opportunity now will he ever at City? | OneFootball

As Manchester City navigate their way through an injury crisis, Pep Guardiola had had to manage a tiring squad. Players are being forced to play more than usual due to the absence of a host of key players due to injury. One player who hasn’t featured often despite City’s injury situation is James McAtee. The lack of minutes for McAtee is striking. It does pose a question. If McAtee can’t get an opportunity at Manchester City now, will he ever get one? That is a question to ponder as McAtee continues to bide his time on City’s bench.

So far this season James McAtee has made 6 appearances in all competitions. He has only played one minute of Premier League action all season. McAtee did score his first Manchester City goal during their 4-nil win over Slovan Bratislava earlier this season. But besides that, moments to impress have been few and far between for the talented playmaker.

But James McAtee isn’t getting any opportunities to show what he is capable of throughout City’s injury situation. He has continued to sit on the bench. If he was ever going to have the opportunity to impress you’d have thought it would’ve been now. But to date, that opportunity hasn’t come. Now you wonder, will it ever for McAtee? He is, without a doubt, a talented player, but he is well down Manchester City’s pecking order. Players such as Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, and even Savinho and Jeremy Doku are in McAtee’s way currently. They have all been preferred by Pep Guardiola throughout City’s injury-affected run.

READ MORE: There is no change to Manchester City’s injury situation for Brighton clash.

Pep Guardiola was asked if the opportunity to start for James McAtee was on the horizon yesterday. Speaking during his pre-game press conference he replied: “Yes, it can happen. We don’t have much players and it can happen. 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.”

Obviously, Pep Guardiola hasn’t forgotten about James McAtee. That would be a ridiculous conclusion to draw. But as McAtee continues to bide his time on City’s bench you do wonder if he will ever get an opportunity to impress for Manchester City. Cause if he can’t now throughout City’s injury crisis you have to think will he ever get that chance when everyone is fit and available for Pep Guardiola.