Gareth Taylor responds to Chloe Kelly rumours ahead of Manchester derby | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor dismissed speculation about Chloe Kelly’s future, insisting she is ‘our player until otherwise’.

The 27-year-old has started just one Women’s Super League game this season, and there have been rumours circulating about the forward moving to rivals Manchester United.

City face United in the League Cup on Wednesday, their second meeting in four days after Taylor’s side lost 4-2 at the Etihad in the WSL, and Kelly will be out of the squad again.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s Cup tie, Taylor said: “We are not aware of the stuff that is going on around us, we are just dealing with what we have and Chloe has an issue with her ankle. Until that improves she’s not going to be available.

“I’ve always spoken about players – when they’re here, they are here. They are Manchester City players until otherwise. If nothing changes this window, she is our player. She is our player until we hear otherwise.”

Another player missing from City’s squad is the league’s leading goalscorer Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, but Taylor said she is likely be back for the weekend which is a ‘huge positive’ for their WSL campaign.

After losing to their rivals at the weekend, they have a chance to turn things around on Wednesday in the League Cup quarter-final at Leigh Sports Village.

“It’s never nice to lose a derby,” he added. “Between both boxes, we were pretty good, but had some issues in our build-up play, especially from goal kicks.

“We really need to be better in that place and we will be – we trust in what we do. Players want to play here because of the way we play.

“We have an opportunity. It’s the perfect game for us and we are really excited about going there and striking back.

“[This competition] should never be sniffed at. This has been a competition we have done really well in over the years. It’s the first available trophy of the season and one that many teams, not just us, will want to win.”