Man City star has immediate chance to prove Chelsea transfer decision right amid Cole Palmer scars

After a bruising run of fixtures in the Premier League and Champions League, Manchester City will get a welcome change of pace this weekend when they travel to League One play-off hopefuls Leyton Orient in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

With Tuesday's visit of Real Madrid to the Etihad Stadium in the Champions League play-off round looming large, Pep Guardiola will likely use the trip to East London as an opportunity to have a look at a number of City's talented youngsters.

The likes of James McAtee and new signings Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis could get a run out at the Gaughan Group Stadium. So could 19-year-old midfielder Nico O'Reilly.

The midfielder has made excellent progress at City this season and has made six appearances in all competitions. He was trusted to start in the Community Shield at Wembley Stadium in August and has also started in all three of City's domestic cup games this term.

His progress has not gone unnoticed elsewhere either. So much so that Chelsea made an enquiry about his availability in the January transfer window.

O'Reilly has had admirers at Stamford Bridge for a while given the number of former City academy staff who are there, and the arrival of Enzo Maresca and assistant Danny Walker in West London this season has only added to that.

However, City were only willing to entertain the deal if it included a buyback clause having been scarred by not inserting one in Cole Palmer's £42million move in the summer of 2023.

Palmer has gone on to become one of the best players in the Premier League and City were keen to avoid a similar situation happening again.

That's not to say the expectation is for O'Reilly to hit those levels but City are excited by his potential and are keen for him to