Phil SumblerAs Manchester City send more players out on loan it is starting to appear less certain that they will be prepared to consider a loan move for James McAtee in this window especially given his recent appearances around the first team squad.
McAtee has found himself not just on the edge of the squad at times but in the matchday grouping as the effects of the pandemic have hit and clubs have had to turn to more and more younger players to assist with their matchday plans.
Results wise it has not impacted City who are on a run of twelve wins on the bounce and looking nailed on to retain their Premier League title which in itself could mean more game time for McAtee with the Champions League resumption not far around the corner. That in itself means that it is not inconceivable that Pep Guardiola will start using younger players in league games given the impressive lead they have built up.
Tommy Doyle asked to end his loan spell at Hamburg and looks set to join Cardiff City whilst Taylor Harwood-Bellis was recalled from his spell at Anderlecht due to a reduction in playing time, with a new loan at Stoke City arranged for the second half of the season. Goalkeeper James Trafford has also been recalled from Accrington and joined Bolton instead.
These are players that City chose to loan out at the start of the season so it is no surprise that this strategy remains but in the case of McAtee he has been at the Ethiad this season to date and there is still reported thoughts within the club that he would be better staying and learning from the world class players around him. A sentiment that is hard to argue with especially if that sentiment comes with some game time as well.
City’s Under-23’s head coach Brian Barry-Murphy says he doesn’t expect any significant outgoings on loan this month but references the pandemic and the impact it has in thoughts at all levels of the club.
“I have quite a lot of experience with the loan market,” the former Rochdale manager told MEN Sport, without naming McAtee or any other player specifically.
“There will be a host of clubs in a lot of countries that will want our players. The situation is very complex in terms of what is happening with the pandemic. The club will have some ideas, and at the moment I’m not aware of any of our players leaving on loan.
“If that changes, it has the knock-on effect of when we’ve lost players to injury, younger players will come into the fray.
“From our point of view it’s a no-lose situation, it’s making sure all of our players get as much action as possible and if that involves going on loan to enhance that, that’d be good.”
It does seem that any hopes of landing McAtee on loan are fading but it remains a case of never say never and with two weeks to go there is no reason why City’s stance may not change and McAtee comes in after all.
