Manchester City teenager Shea Charles is at home with Northern Ireland, insists Ian Baraclough

Ian Baraclough is confident Manchester City starlet Shea Charles has found a permanent international home with Northern Ireland.

Charles, a versatile midfielder who was born in Manchester and qualifies for the Green and White Army through his mother, is eligible to play for England.

The Republic of Ireland are also understood to be keeping an eye on the gifted 18-year-old who has trained with Pep Guardiola’s first team squad this season.

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Premier League prospects are always going to attract attention, but Baraclough has no fears of Charles jumping ship after coming through Northern Ireland’s underage ranks.

Asked if the talented teen, who has been handed a call-up to the Northern Ireland senior squad, might be on the radar of other neighbouring football nations, Baraclough said: “Not only England. I’m sure someone else has been in his ear as well.

“But we have high hopes of Shea developing into a very, very good player. He has come through the age groups and he is someone we have nurtured from a really young age.

“He’s probably in a senior squad quicker than he expected, but we don’t feel the need to cap him enough times to cover that (so) he can’t move anywhere else.

“The way he gets looked after and the opportunities he has been given with us is something that resonates with him and his family.

“We’ve got to be mindful of giving him something too early, but we feel he’s up to the challenge.”

Charles, who has been capped by Northern Ireland at U19, U17 and U16 level, can operate as a defensive midfielder or at centre-back and full-back.

He initially represented Manchester City at U18 level but was a regular in the club’s U23s which