Lescott to demand Mancini showdown talks over Manchester City future

Nov 28, 2012 12:42:00 PM

The defender has fallen down the pecking order at Etihad Stadium this season and wants to know where he stands with his manager

EXCLUSIVE
By Wayne Veysey | Chief Correspondent

Joleon Lescott is to demand showdown talks with Roberto Mancini about his role in the Manchester City squad, Goal.com can reveal.

Lescott has fallen dramatically down the City pecking orderthis season and has not figured for the first team since coming on as a late substitute in the club’s 1-0 win over Swansea City on October 27.

Despite being an England regular under Roy Hodgson and forming a formidable partnership with Vincent Kompany last season, Lescott has started only one of the club’s five Champions League matches in 2012-13 and not been named in the starting XI for five-and-a-half weeks.

Intriguingly, the 30-year-old did not even make the substitute’s bench for City’s goalless draw at Chelsea last Sunday, when he was overlooked in favour of Kolo Toure, who is not even registered for the Champions League.

Lescott, who is regarded as a top professional and low maintenance by City staff, now wants to know where he stands with Mancini.

He is expected to ask for talks with the manager in the coming weeks about his future at the club he joined from Everton for £24 million in the summer of 2009.

Lescott is frustrated at being continually overlooked in favour of Serbian newcomer Matija Nastasic, who arrived from Fiorentina on the last day of the August window.

Mancini appeared to make his mind up about Lescott’s place in the pecking order when the defender made an error for the second goal City conceded against Ajax in the Champions League last month.

The former Wolves defender was immediately subbed and Mancini took a swipe at him in his post-match interviews, sarcastically saying: “It's my fault, I didn't tell him [Lescott] to jump.”

Lescott’s long-term future at Etihad Stadium is now in serious doubt, with the player out of contract in 2014 and expecting to open talks over a new deal in the New Year.

Lescott, who currently earns £90,000-a-week, had been lined up for a new offer incorporating an improved salary and a one-year extension.

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