Kelechi Iheanacho has been excluded from Manchester City’s 25 man Champions League squad for the forthcoming European campaign.
The Nigerian teenager, who made his debut in last week’s 2-0 home in over Watford, only officially joined City in February this year following delays with his work permit.
He is ineligible to join the B-list consisting of an unlimited number of players under the age of 21 who have been with the club for over two years.
UEFA’s rules stipulate a maximum of 17 foreign players in a 25 man squad’s A-list of senior players and Iheanacho was chosen to miss out this time.
Joe Hart, Fabian Delph, Raheem Sterling and Gael Clichy qualify as home grown players for City over the 17 strong foreigner limit after the summer departures of James Milner and Frank Lampard.
City had problems last season with the number of foreign players in their Champions League squad as part of their punishment under financial fair play limiting them to 16 foreign players in last season’s squad.
This led to the exclusion of Stevan Jovetic earlier this year after Wilfried Bony was signed during the winter transfer window.
The limitation was removed in the summer and Jovetic’s departure, plus that of Edin Dzeko, freed up two slots in the squad but the arrival of Nicolas Otamendi and Kevin De Bruyne meant that there was no space for Iheanacho.
Iheanacho’s exclusion means that City will tackle their six Champions League group games this year with two senior forwards – Bony and Sergio Aguero – with Sterling able to fill in as an emergency striker if needed.