Nathan Ake may have to settle for another season as back-up at Manchester City next year, but his performances in the Premier League title-winning run-in mean he will continue to get chances.
That is the verdict of former City centre-back and captain Richard Dunne, who has weighed up the difficult challenge facing Dutchman Ake. With John Stones, Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte all battling for two centre-back spots, Ake has been left as firmly fourth-choice in the hierarchy, but showed his value at centre-back and left-back towards the end of the season when required to step in to cover injuries.
And Dunne believes his best chance of earning more playing time next season is to maintain his fitness and be ready to perform when such an occasion comes around again, with the three players ahead of him difficult to dislodge.
