'Not a regular player' - Everything Pep Guardiola said about James McAtee amid Man City exit links

Manchester City and James McAtee both made clear that they wanted to make things work this season. Despite City's title defence crumbling around him, however, McAtee has had a front row seat to the season rather than an active role.

Having spent two seasons at Sheffield United, last year defying Pep Guardiola to head out on loan again, McAtee decided that he was ready to fight for a place at the Etihad even if it meant less playing time.

What he won't have expected is just how little action he will have seen, with just two minutes (plus injury time) of Premier League action this season and 16 occasions where he has been an unused substitute.

He has eight appearances in total this season from a possible 26, with more than half of his total minutes coming in two starts in the Carabao Cup. Even with City's injury crisis forcing various players to come back injured, run themselves into the ground and overplay to the point of regular mistakes, McAtee has stayed on the bench.

It is no surprise, then, to see him linked with a January transfer exit. If there was ever a period to get a regular run in City's team it is this season, so nobody could blame him for looking elsewhere.

In the summer, with an opportunity to work with Guardiola on the summer tour, McAtee said: "Obviously it’s my dream to play for this club. I’m going to get my head down, try my hardest and see how it goes. I’m not really fussed about minutes.

"I just want to learn from the best manager, the best players and it’s not really about minutes. I’ve gone out and got my minutes. I need to earn that. If I can do that then I’ll be happy with myself.

"Obviously I know the demands and quality in this team. If I wasn’t to get minutes it’s not something I’d be upset