Will Pep Guardiola give youth a chance to shine against Salford City? | OneFootball

Up next for Manchester City is an FA Cup third-round tie against Salford City. The match takes place at the Etihad on Saturday. Last season’s FA Cup finalists may get several key players back from injury for the tie. But it could also be the ideal time for Pep Guardiola to allow several of City’s talented youngsters to start. It just remains to be seen if he will do so.

It has to be said that Salford City will likely be no pushovers on Saturday. They currently sit 3rd in the League Two table and they will be eager to cause a famous FA Cup upset. Of course, Manchester City will be favourites for the FA Cup tie, but the FA Cup is famous for upsets. Pep Guardiola’s side will be hoping to avoid that fate at the Etihad. Despite this, it is the ideal opportunity for several of City’s youngsters to start the FA Cup third-round tie.

It does seem like the ideal setting to start Jahmai Simpson-Pusey. With Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji both not 100% fit either one of them could do with a rest on Saturday. That should give Simpson-Pusey a chance to impress. The same can be said for Nico O’Reilly or Jacob Wright. Bernardo Silva is in desperate need of a rest just to recharge for the challenges ahead. Perhaps it is time to start either O’Reilly or Wright in City’s midfield. Pairing either of them alongside Ilkay Gundogan or Mateo Kovacic would allow them the opportunity to play.

James McAtee does appear to be a certain starter against Salford City. He impressed against Leicester City and he needs to be playing. Saturday’s FA Cup tie seems like the ideal stage for McAtee to start. It’s almost a move that appears destined to be made by Pep Guardiola. If McAtee does start at the Etihad and impress he may play his way into a more consistent role in the City squad.

First of all, Manchester City will be eager to beat Salford City at the Etihad. That is Pep Guardiola’s side’s biggest priority. But there is the opportunity for the City manager to allow youth to impress. It does seem like it’s a move that should be made to rest several of City’s key players for what lies ahead. But it could also aid City’s youngsters development and that is also a positive to consider.