PEP CAN'T RULE OUT EXIT FOR MCATEE

PEP Guardiola wants to keep James McAtee at City but can't rule out an exit.

- SIMON BAJKOWSKI

McAtee was on loan at Sheffield United for the past two seasons but stayed with Pep Guardiola's squad last summer with the manager adamant that he wanted him in his plans.

That faith is still there, but it has not turned into game time despite the alarming slump of the team, with Guardiola trusting senior stars to come good and only giving McAtee starts in the Carabao Cup (two) and FA Cup (one).