Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has acknowledged that the development of Nigerian starlet Kelechi Iheanacho allows the club to be patient in the upcoming winter transfer window.
Iheanacho, 19, has one goal in nine Premier League appearances, a memorable poach for a late winner against Crystal Palace in September. He has also struck twice in two League Cup appearances.
His talent, and burgeoning productivity, means Man City will not be rushed into signing another striker in January despite an ongoing injury crisis which threatens the side’s increasingly hectic campaign, says Pellegrini.
The Chilean plugged a gap last year by landing Wilfried Bony from Swansea City but believes with Iheanacho steadily reaching a higher level, and a stronger squad generally, this time around makes it less imperative for him to hunt for reinforcements.
Sergio Aguero has been ruled out for City’s trip to Stoke City on Saturday, joining the likes of Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta and Yaya Toure on the sidelines.
But Pellegrini said: “We made the decision last year because we had three players injured and Kelechi (Iheanacho) was one year younger and he was not the player he is today.
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“Jovetic and Aguero had a lot of injuries in the first half of the season and that was why we decided to bring in Bony.
Now, though, Pellegrini says “we are okay with this”.
“We have Kelechi and we have got to give time to the young players. They are maybe not 100 per cent ready to play every game but he is doing very well.
“So I am not concerned that we didn’t bring in another player because we have Kelechi and we also have Sterling who can play as a central striker.”
Despite the return to fitness of the likes of Joe Hart and David Silva, City’s injury problems are far from easing as they look to maintain their challenge for silverware on four fronts.
But Pellegrini is optimistic that the strength in his squad will continue to make a difference as they head into the increasingly busy festive and new year period.
Read more: The National's Transfer Talk page
Pellegrini said: “You have to play so many games in December and January with the [League] Cup and the FA Cup so it is very important to try to be as near to the top as possible.
“We are at the moment in a very good position and I don’t think anybody can have any doubts about the strength of our squad. It is important than when you don’t have the important players you have a squad that is able to play the same way, and I think that is what we are doing so far.”
And Pellegrini has refused to rule out the prospect of leading his side to a clean sweep of all four trophies after a week in which they reached the League Cup semi-finals with victory over Hull City.
“When you continue in all the competitions you have so many games. The important thing is to continue with those options in every game you play,” he added.
“It always must be the target of the big clubs. We try to be a big club and to think as a big club, so of course it can be an option but we are not thinking about that.”
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