Man City were desperate to stop James McAtee leaving - here's why he's primed to make them pay like Cole Palmer if they don't give him his chance, writes JACK GAUGHAN

James McAtee made his Premier League debut three years ago, a three-minute cameo against Everton. Two years spent on loan at Sheffield United, in promotion and relegation campaigns, served to accelerate McAtee’s development and the feeling around City in the summer — echoed by Pep Guardiola’s public praise — was that the time had come for the academy’s latest jewel to glisten. James McAtee has only played three minutes of Premier League action for Manchester City After plenty of interest over the summer Pep Guardiola was insistent that McAtee should stay The academy graduate was likened to club legend David Silva after his three-minute debut It was also hard not to wonder whether such a naturally gifted talent could have impacted the game. There are genuine similarities between Palmer and McAtee, with no obvious reason why the latter couldn’t emulate Chelsea’s talisman given it was he who always shone brightest through the academy system. The recent sales of a number of City's high-profile youngsters like Cole Palmer is provoking debate McAtee came through the academy with the likes of Palmer and current City star Rico Lewis The 22-year-old has become a crucial figure in the England U21s despite his waning minutes at club level England will be desperate that City’s participation in the Club World Cup doesn’t prevent them from picking McAtee for next summer’s tournament because without him, they lose a serious amount of ingenuity.