Josh Wilson-Esbrand's long-term future may lie away from Manchester City, but in the short term he is playing a crucial behind-the-scenes role at the Etihad.
The 23-year-old defender has spent much of the last three years out on loan but has remained with the Blues this season, albeit he was left off the Premier League squad list.
Key Role in EDS and EFL Trophy
That means he can only feature for Oli Reiss' EDS squad, and he started the thrilling Premier League 2 win over Stoke City on Friday night. The former West Ham youngster, who joined City in 2019, is set to start tonight's EFL Trophy group stage game at Port Vale with the Blues needing to win to progress to the knockout stages.
Wilson-Esbrand is likely to leave City when his contract expires in the summer. Having had loan spells at Coventry City, Reims, Cardiff City, Stoke City and Radomiak Radom in Poland over the past few seasons, he is facing a different challenge this term as he slots back into academy football.
Impressing Under-21 Boss
But the defender has embraced his role as elder statesman, and Under-21 boss Reiss has been impressed with Wilson-Esbrand's attitude and willingness to play his part on and off the pitch.
"He is top in terms of his standards and behaviours," Reiss told the Manchester Evening News. "He is part of our EDS and he will have minutes as much as possible. He will get minutes on Tuesday. It is a good stage for him to show how good he is and in the future we will see."
"He is not just performing in terms of training of 'the better I am the more minutes I get,' you can really see the way he behaves and how he talks to the others. I had a good conversation with him (last week) and he said 'I want to help all the younger players around me' and this is the top combination he shows at the moment."
Group Stage Decisive Match
Wilson-Esbrand came off the bench in City's opening EFL Trophy game at Mansfield, which the Blues won 4-1, but missed the defeat at Chesterfield in matchday two. That result means Reiss' side have to beat Vale tonight to progress to the last 32.
Vale begin the night in second, a point above City, while Chesterfield lead the way with five points ahead of their clash with a Mansfield side who have yet to get off the mark. That game is not being played until next month, but if City win in the Midlands and the Stags beat Chesterfield, then City will top the group and earn a seeded spot in the knockout stages which take place in early December.
