The 19-year-old forward earned his senior debut in the FA Cup clash with Norwich City and is now targeting a temporary move away to boost his chances of making the first team
Manchester City prospect Bersant Celina says he is ready for first team football and is hoping to go out on loan to boost his chances of making the grade at the Etihad Stadium.
Celina, 19, made his senior City debut in the FA Cup against Norwich City earlier in January, testing Canaries keeper John Ruddy with two late efforts, and has been linked with a temporary switch to Celtic.
The promising Norwegian-Kosovar forward is confident that he has what it takes to one day thrive with the Premier League outfit, but realises that there are a string of top-class players that he must first surpass.
After scoring a measured effort to seal a 3-1 victory for City's Elite Development Squad against Reading on Friday, he revealed "a lot of clubs" are interested in his services and he is keen to gain some experience elswhere.
"I want to go on loan to play first team games but it's important to find the right club," he told reporters. "I'm not stressing it. I wouldn't mind staying here until the summer and maybe then going on loan. We'll see what happens.
"I feel ready but obviously we're at one of the biggest clubs in the world. It's always hard to get in the team but if I get the chance then I am ready."
And he says he has discussed the idea with his EDS coaches: "They've said I need game time. Even if I'm ready here I can't just go in and take the place of one of the best players in the world. If a loan comes in, I think it's a good idea."Celina has seen Angelino return from a loan spell with New York City FC and make the Blues' first-team squad for Saturday's clash against West Ham, and he believes those opportunities speak for themselves.
"Yeah, obviously," he added. "Angelino looks really good now. He's gone with the first team and he deserves it. There are other players as well, it has been a big benefit to them."
Like many of his young EDS team-mates, Celina has trained with the club's senior players on many occasions and he has nothing but positive things to say about the experience.
"It's really good. All the boys are nice to me. Everyone tries to help me. I feel like I fit in well, it's not like I struggle. A lot of them have spoken to me - Kolarov, Sagna, Clichy. Everyone is trying to help so I'm really pleased."
Celina clearly sets himself very high standards: his well-taken goal settled the result on Friday but he was still disappointed to have missed a first-half penalty and a couple of other chances.
And he views his first-team debut similarly, lamenting his failure to get himself on the scoresheet despite enjoying the experience as a whole.
"It was amazing," he said. "Obviously it was an amazing feeling to get my debut for the first team but as always I want to do well. It's not just making an appearance. I had two chances in that game to score so I was a little disappointed. Maybe next time!"
Celina also tipped playmaker Manu Garcia, who scored his first senior goal against Crystal Palace in the League Cup in October, for big things.
"Manu, you've seen him play! He's an amazing player. He's along with the first team and he deserves it because he's so good.
"You've seen his goal when he came on in the League Cup. He'll come back from his injury and I'm sure he will be with the first team a lot."
- Goal