'Suits me' - Midfielder explains why quitting Man City for Championship was the right move

Shea Charles has no regrets about leaving Manchester City but insists it wasn't an easy decision.

The midfielder joined Southampton in the summer transfer window, departing the treble-winners. The teenager made his Premier League debut for Pep Guardiola’s side at the end of last season but felt a move to the Saints would help his first-team prospects.

It meant Charles leaving his boyhood club and while that wasn't a straightforward call, the 19-year-old believes he's made the right choice to continue his development.

“It’s my boyhood club so it wasn’t easy but it was clear that Southampton was the right option for me," he told the Belfast Telegraph. “The manager plays a good style of football and it really suits me so that really attracted me to the club.

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“I think the move is huge because I’m playing against men every week which coming into the (international) camp allows me to come in and go straight into the games and be able to play like I like to play.”

On his performance for Northern Ireland against Slovenia, a 4-2 defeat which all-but ended any hopes of European Championships qualification in 2024, he added: “I thought I did alright, I thought I did well, just playing that sitting role (in midfield) which I like and then going to right back in the end.

"I can play in other positions so I thought I did alright. It feels like I’m just part of the team now, it’s a good feeling.”