James McAtee is a player who Manchester City fans have very high hopes for after his stunning loan spell at Sheffield United last season.
The 20-year-old scored nine goals and provided three assists in 37 Championship appearances as the Blades secured automatic promotion.
According to the Telegraph, Leicester City showed an interest in the England Under-21 international as a result of these superb displays, but he opted for a return to Sheffield United as he attempts to help Paul Heckingbottom’s side stay in the Premier League.
Now – however – it seems as if James McAtee might be in for a miserable campaign away from Manchester City…
What’s the story?
Well, the Salford-born prodigy could have been enjoying himself at the top of the Championship under Enzo Maresca at Leicester City.
The Foxes currently lead England’s second tier after winning seven of their first eight Championship outings.
Contrastingly – albeit in a higher division – McAtee and Sheffield United sit bottom of the Premier League, having failed to win any of their six games so far this season.
The Blades were also just involved in one of the heaviest defeats in Premier League history as Newcastle United thrashed Heckingbottom’s side 8-0 at Bramall Lane.
Manchester City starlet James McAtee will learn more at Sheffield United than he would have at Leicester City
While some might argue that McAtee made the wrong decision in rejecting Leicester City, we disagree.
Loan moves are not supposed to be easy – they are designed to give youngsters a brutal taste of what senior football is really like.
In that respect, McAtee will learn a lot more at Sheffield United this season than he would have at the King Power Stadium, as positional maturity and a need to constantly stay focused will undoubtedly be drilled into him by Heckingbottom, something Pep Guardiola demands from even his most technically gifted players.
That is arguably all that the Manchester City academy lacks, in fairness – nobody can question his immense technical ability on the ball.
Hopefully – whatever happens to Sheffield United this season – McAtee can return to the Etihad Stadium as a vastly improved player next summer.
