If Pep won't play McAtee now, when will he get chance?

PLAYING Brighton and 2-1 down. City need a goal.

- JOE BRAY

Bernardo Silva and Kevin de Bruyne had come on but neither were fully fit and couldn’t stop two quickfire goals going against an exhausted Blues side.

Pep Guardiola had around 15 minutes left including injury time, but no further substitutions came. City lost again.

This was the ninth game in a row where Guardiola has kept James McAtee on the bench, despite often talking up his ability to link midfield and attack in the small spaces. If he can’t play now, when will he?

McAtee has six appearances to his name this season, scoring once in the Champions League and starting both games in the Carabao Cup, plus the Community Shield.