Nico O’Reilly sends England role message to Thomas Tuchel ahead of FIFA World Cup | OneFootball

Manchester City’s Wembley hero Nico O’Reilly has lifted the lid on his versatility ahead of a likely England call-up at the FIFA World Cup this summer.

O’Reilly is enjoying a brilliant season at his boyhood club and despite Manchester City being at a nascent stage of their transition under sporting director Hugo Viana, the academy graduate is reaping the rewards of Pep Guardiola‘s faith.

Since breaking into the first-team from the academy ranks, the 21-year-old has gone from strength to strength and worked between left-back and midfield to establish himself as one of the first names on Guardiola’s teamsheet.

However, O’Reilly took his game to a whole new level at Wembley on Sunday as he scored a brace of headers within four minutes of a dominant second-half display from Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal to win a first trophy in two seasons for his boyhood club.

Positional swap was a bit of a surprise, says O’Reilly

O’Reilly spent his most formative years in the City Football Academy as an attacking midfielder – embodied in his match-winning performance in the Carabao Cup final as he made the difference for the Blues in the final third owing to his natural attacking instincts.

However, the Manchester-born star remembers Guardiola telling him he would be playing him at left-back in the FA Cup against Salford City last season.

“It was a bit of a surprise. I think it was just one session before the Salford game last season,” said O’Reilly in an interview with ESPN prior to the Carabao Cup final triumph at Wembley.

“Pep said, ‘Right, you’re playing there tomorrow’. Then I did well, gradually, and I started playing there more and more.”

O’Reilly reflects on returning to midfield

Rayan Ait-Nouri‘s fitness struggles handed O’Reilly a platform to retain a starting spot at left-back in the opening half of his first full season in the Manchester City senior squad.

However, since January, Guardiola has benefitted from positioning O’Reilly alongside club captain Bernardo Silva and Ballon d’Or winner Rodri in a dynamic midfield trio – a decision that certainly paid off in City’s title race rejuvenation in February.

“This season I started to go back into midfield a bit,” O’Reilly added. “I was happy with it. I didn’t mind it. I enjoyed it. It was a good challenge.

“It just depends where the manager wants to play me, where they think I’m better. As long as I’m playing, I’m happy.”

England manager Thomas Tuchel is understood to be a big fan of O’Reilly, whose versatility and ability to make the difference at both ends of the pitch have made him a strong contender to make the starting line-up for his nation at this summer’s marquee tournament across the Atlantic.