Pep Guardiola said that Cole Palmer is not going anywhere as he continues to grow into the Manchester City team.
Palmer, 19, drew headlines over the weekend when he followed up a short cameo against Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday with a hat-trick in an Under-23s match that same day. And he continued his momentum by coming off the bench against Club Brugge for the final 25 minutes and scoring his first Champions League goal with a lovely stroke past the goalkeeper.
Talk of the Wythenshawe talent dominated Guardiola's post-match press conference and while the manager still wants caution he would not entertain any idea of Palmer going out on loan in January as interest in the player mounts and the calls for more regular football will grow inevitably louder - as they did with Phil Foden.
"Absolutely not," he said. "Today we had 17 players so we don't have enough. I think he's going to stay this season with us.
"Cole has a special quality in front of the box that is difficult to find. When he has the ball there, most of them finish in the net. It is not easy to find it but I know how it works with young players in all countries.
"Be calm, be patient like we have done with Phil. His position is the second team - but at the same time he is training with us, taking the rhythm and the principles and of course he's a player for the future for the club. I'm happy for the goal, he could have done a few actions a little bit better but it's experience.
"When we can do it, we give the young players the opportunity."
