Max Alleyne made his debut for Manchester City in the 1-1 draw with Brighton and earned praise from Pep Guardiola
In a week where Manchester City Pep Guardiola seemingly suggested the end is nigh at the Etihad for John Stones, perhaps the Blues got their first glimpse of a potential successor.
Max Alleyne was a Watford player 72 hours before his City debut. Injuries to Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias necessitated his recall and the 20-year-old was surprisingly thrown straight into the starting XI against Brighton on Wednesday night to afford Nico O’Reilly a breather.
And while City dropped two points against the Seagulls in a result that cedes further momentum to Arsenal in the Premier League title race, Alleyne produced an encouraging debut. Pep Guardiola labelled him ‘exceptional’ and given the circumstances and the context you can see why the City boss was quick to praise the youngster.
“He played exceptional,” said Guardiola of the England Under-21 international. “Yesterday was his first training. He trained a lot two years ago but I say thank you to Watford because they helped him a lot to grow up as a football player.
“He is fast in transitions and good on the ball. There was one ball but the rest was top. Unfortunately we couldn’t deliver the victory on his debut in the Premier League but he will have many in the future.”
Alleyne didn’t look out of place at the highest level and there were moments of calmness and composure. In the closing stages he strode forwards with the ball at his feet to try and help City find a winner, while there were plenty of quick, incisive, forward passes to try and break lines.
Positionally he was found wanting a couple of times but given he was parachuted into the side, and that he was part of something of a makeshift back four alongside Abdukodir Khusanov – himself still learning his trade at this level – there was enough from Alleyne to show he can make the grade at City.
He might get another chance to impress when third tier Exeter City visit in the FA Cup on Saturday and will now be part of the City squad for the remainder of the season with Josko Gvardiol perhaps out for the remainder of the campaign, Ruben Dias at least a month away from returning and Stones showing no signs of nearing a return.
The England international has barely featured in recent months and Guardiola spoke as though the out of contract centre back would be departing on a free come the summer when speaking ahead of the Brighton clash. Stones has been perhaps the defender of the Guardiola era, magnificent in the Champions League final and at his best, among the best in world football. He may well be City’s past now, but Alleyne can be the future.
