Manchester City look set for yet another positive year as we head into 2023.
The Blues have once again managed the seemingly impossible and have improved on what many would see as perfection. Additions of Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez have strengthened City enormously.
City's EDS will also enter the new year on a high having seen Rico Lewis make the step up into the first team and earn rave reviews from Pep Guardiola in the process. Lewis is by no means the only talented youngster at the club and MEN Sport has taken a look at five starlets who City's head coach may have decisions to make over the next 12 months.
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Josh Wilson-Esbrand
City's young full-back jetted off to America along with Lewis before the season began in a huge show of faith for the Blues man. While his teammate impressed, Wilson-Esbrand looked the most likely at that stage to break into the first team.
Instead, the left-back has been limited to a couple of cameos in the Champions League while Lewis appears on the way to becoming a fully fledged member of the first-team squad. Guardiola may look to send Wilson-Esbrand out on loan in 2023 to the Championship in the hope of getting him regular minutes, especially considering he is a fifth-choice full-back at present.
He should not be disheartened though as there is clearly plenty of potential in him.
Carlos Borges
It feels as though we are heading towards a crossroads with Borges. With 16 goals and 11 assists in 18 youth team appearances, the Portuguese teenager looks to have outgrown the Blues' development squad.
Due to the wealth of attacking talent at Guardiola's disposal it may be tricky for him to break into the first team at this stage. Like Wilson-Esbrand, it may be ideal for Borges to be moved to a Championship side on loan as a natural progression in his development.
James McAtee
At first, the Salford-born attacking midfielder struggled to adapt to his loan spell at Sheffield United. However, from October onwards he has proven his worth for the Blades and has highlighted why these temporary deals are so positive for a player's progression.
McAtee has already made six appearances for the Blues' first team and it would seem that he is showing signs of outgrowing the second tier. Slotting him back into the senior squad upon his return from Bramall Lane will be just rewards for the Englishman.
Tommy Doyle
Like McAtee, Doyle is no stranger to having played in the City first team. With seven appearances to his name, Guardiola clearly sees something in the duo.
This is Doyle's second spell in the Championship and he has proven that his game is developing well. Reintegrating him into the senior squad, along with McAtee would surely be on Guardiola's agenda if he can keep this form up.
James Trafford
Bolton Wanderers managed a coup when bringing Trafford to League One for a year and a half in January. The England U21 international has shown how well he is playing with the near-constant attention he is receiving from opposition clubs.
Should City want to keep hold of the shot stopper, they will need to offer him further progression in 2023. A loan spell to a Championship club may be enough to keep the likes of Rangers away from the talented goalkeeper.
A return to Bolton for the 2023/24 campaign seems highly unlikely at this stage.
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