Max Alleyne issues clear starting line-up message ahead of Manchester United clash | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has plenty of thinking to do ahead of the clash with Manchester United, and Max Alleyne believes on pairing at the heart of defence has made its impression.

The 20-year-old’s rapid rise has been one of the standout stories of City’s recent run of fixtures after being recalled from a loan spell at Watford, and immediately becoming genuine contender for a starting role through maturity, composure, and a growing authority in defence.

Alleyne’s introduction to the first-team at the Etihad Stadium has been remarkable, making his debut in a 1-1 draw against Brighton just a day after returning to the club, before scoring his first senior goal for the club in a 10-1 FA Cup demolition of Exeter, and following that up with a clean sheet in the 0-2 Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg victory over Newcastle.

Central to that success has been his developing partnership with Abdukodir Khusanov, quickly drawing praise from fans and coaching staff alike, with a blend of pace, composure, and physicality providing Pep Guardiola with a fresh defensive option.

Speaking in a new interview with The Sun ahead of the clash with Manchester United on Saturday lunchtime, Max Alleyne revealed his belief that a strong bond has been formed with Khusanov in the last few matches.

“I was just taking it game by game [since being recalled by Manchester City from Watford], but now I’m super excited about my first one [Manchester derby] and first experience of it. I’m sure the atmosphere will be amazing. So, yeah, I’m looking forward to it,” said Alleyne.

The 20-year-old continued, “We’ll talk about it and deal with it… I’ve really developed a bond with [Abdukodir] Khusanov, so it’s been really good playing with him. I’m looking forward to more.”

One element of Max Alleyne’s game that has impressed many since emerging into Manchester City’s first-team squad is the youngster’s strength in aerial duels, winning 92 per cent of such battles in his three appearances to date.

“It’s something I’ve been really trying to work on and it was probably one of the things in my game that I wasn’t as good at before,” Alleyne admitted. “I went out on loan and just being at Watford really helped me with that. It was different from anything I’d experienced before.”

Those comments appear to serve as a clear message to Pep Guardiola ahead of team selection for the Manchester derby, with Alleyne not just enjoying the experience, but actively making a case for continuity, and particularly alongside Khusanov.

With confidence growing and statistics supporting his impact, Max Alleyne is positioning himself as more than a short-term solution, and should Guardiola opt to trust youth in such a high-stakes fixture, the Khusanov-Alleyne partnership could be handed its biggest test yet.

If selected, it would also underline Manchester City’s belief in the next generation and confirm Max Alleyne’s remarkable transformation from loan player to first-team contender in the space of just a few days.