James Trafford admits it would be tough to return to the academy scene as he sets his sights on challenging Ederson for a regular place in the Manchester City starting XI one day.
Nurtured in the City youth system, the 19-year-old goalkeeper has yet to make his senior debut for the club but continues to impress on loan with Bolton Wanderers.
Trafford spent the first half of this season in League One at Accrington Stanley.
Having played 11 games for Accrington, the teenager switched to Bolton during the January transfer window and has already made history at the University of Bolton Stadium. The City graduate kept clean sheets in each of his first four matches for Bolton - a club record.
Trafford only has 18 months left to run on his City contract but says there is still plenty of time to settle on where he will be playing his football next season.
Speaking to The Bolton News about his future, Trafford said: "I would never go back and play 23s.
"If I was to go back with City, it would be as second-choice or to challenge Eddie [Ederson].
"I wouldn't want to play that level again, especially now I've got the taste for the environment of men's football.
"But it's still February, so there's no rush. If I was to go back there [City], I don't know if they know what is happening with Eddie [Ederson], Scott [Carson], Zack [Steffen] or even Slicks [Cieran Slicker]."
Which academy player will break through next? Have your say in the comments section below.
Trafford added: "I'm loving the feeling of playing for points. It's so different to the 23s league because this means so much more. You get beat in the 23s and move on to the next one, train with the first-team the next day, everything is good.
"But say if we [Bolton] lost the next seven games, there would be jobs on the line so some of the lads might not be here. It means so much more and I'm loving it here but, of course, it's better when we are winning."
Sign up to our City newsletter so you never miss an update from the Etihad Stadium this season.
