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Could Pep Guardiola consider Man City youngster with Foden and Silva struggling? [Opinion]

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Manchester City confirmed on Friday morning that Carlos Borges had been nominated for PL2 Player of the Month after contributing six goals in January. Adedire Mebude and Mikki Van Sas were also named in the eight-man shortlist.

Borges scored twice in a 6-0 win at home to Arsenal (January 7), netted once in City’s 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion (January 14) and scored one goal with two assists in a 5-0 win at Crystal Palace (January 30), so the 18-year-old will hope that’s caught Pep Guardiola’s attention.

Phil Foden (1 goal and 0 assists in PL since October) and Bernardo Silva (0 goals in PL since August, 0 assists since October) have been short of form, so Guardiola might consider a left-field option to inject goals into the side if he can’t depend on his regulars. Seeing Rico Lewis’ rise to prominence will have many academy graduates hopeful of making the eventual step up.

Borges joined City from Sporting in 2014 and has scored 24 goals with 23 assists from 34 games for the U18s, scored five goals with five assists from six games for the U19s and scored 17 goals with nine assists from 28 games for the U21s.

The Portuguese U19 international has yet to make a first-team appearance but can’t be too far away if he continues to dominate the Premier League 2. There is stiff competition at senior level from an in-form Jack Grealish and Julian Alvarez, however, so Borges will have to be patient for an opportunity.

Like with Mebude, he’ll no doubt hope a dead-rubber fixture at the end of the season could see him make his debut.

In other news, will Pep Guardiola consider Adedire Mebude after POTM nomination?

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He joined from Newcastle in 2000 and left to join FC Sochaux in 2003

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