Nigeria’s Kelechi Iheanacho will miss out on Europe with Manchester City

One of Nigeria's most enticing talents, Kelechi Iheanacho, is now a member of the Manchester City first team, but missed the cut of 17 foreign players for Champions League squad inclusion.

Manchester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho goes to play the ball during a pre-season friendly against AS Roma this summer. Robert Prezioso / Getty Images / July 21, 2015

Manchester City have been forced to leave striker Kelechi Iheanacho out of their Champions League squad.

The 18-year-old Nigerian has not been named in the 21-man squad City submitted to – and now published by – European governing body Uefa, because it already includes the maximum 17 foreign players.

Iheanacho has been elevated to the first-team squad by manager Manuel Pellegrini this season and made a brief substitute appearance in Saturday's Premier League win over Watford.

Read more: Greg Lea on Man City's smart piece of business with Raheem Sterling

But he will have to wait for a Champions League chance. City can supplement their squad from a “B” list of Under 21 players but Iheanacho, who joined the club last year, does not qualify for that category until he has been at the club two years.

City could have named up to 25 players on their “A” list but have not filled up the quota. The 17 foreign players are joined by Englishmen Joe Hart, Fabian Delph and Raheem Sterling, and Gael Clichy, who also counts as homegrown.

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE