Nico O'Reilly has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign for club and country, but the Manchester City youngster has made clear his long-term ambition is to play in midfield, not left-back. The 18-year-old, who has been deployed at left-back for City and England, believes his natural position is in the middle of the park, raising the prospect of a partnership with prospective new signing Elliot Anderson.
O'Reilly Confident in Midfield Future
Speaking ahead of England's Under-20 World Cup clash against Ghana on Tuesday, O'Reilly stated: "I think in the future I will be back in midfield. My profile, everything fits there and maybe a box to box midfielder but left-back I have been enjoying it and it has got me here now to a World Cup."
O'Reilly started for England in their 4-2 win over Croatia last week and is expected to feature again against Ghana. He acknowledged that his current role allows him to drift inside, making it less traditional: "Playing at left-back I have been playing in the middle for most of it anyway so it’s not like I am playing as a traditional left-back, even in England, I am still coming inside and allowed to drift in and drift out wide so it is a bit more relaxed."
Potential Anderson Partnership
Manchester City are working on a deal to sign Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson. The prospect of O'Reilly and Anderson forming a midfield partnership is an attractive one for City, especially given the long-term uncertainty surrounding Rodri's future at the club. While O'Reilly's shift to midfield could create a vacancy at left-back, the Manchester native is confident he will return to his preferred role in due course.
Facing Clubmate Semenyo
In Tuesday's match, O'Reilly will likely come up against City teammate Antoine Semenyo, a key player for Ghana who also started their World Cup campaign with a victory. O'Reilly knows what to expect from Semenyo, who joined City in January. "Antoine is a very good player. I’ve seen it first hand in training and playing with him," O'Reilly said. "I know Ghana are going to be very physical. If we play our game, we do what we did towards the end of the last game, I think we should be okay."
He added: "He’s very strong. He’s always in the gym! He’s a big lad but he can’t win the game by himself so if we double up on him, we’ll see. We’ve got a physical squad ourselves. Set pieces were a threat in the last game and I’m sure they’ll be looking at that."
