Explained: Why Lionesses icon Chloe Kelly is being snubbed by Man City boss Gareth Taylor as she's sent stern 'work hard' message with contract running down

Kelly wasn't in City's starting XI for the FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Tottenham earlier this month and is yet to regain her place from Australia star Mary Fowler. She came on as a substitute in the win over Brighton last week and was unused during the victory over rivals Manchester United on Saturday.

Kelly has essentially been ever-present for City when she has been fit, forming an exceptional front three with fellow England winger Lauren Hemp and striker Khadija Shaw, who became the women's team's all-time top goal-scorer on Saturday. This is the first time she has really fallen out of favour since joining the club, with Fowler being preferred.

Asked about her absence, Taylor explained: "It's just basically we have good players. We put Mary [Fowler] into the FA Cup game, she scores. She scores against Brighton last week. Mary's a very good player. She started the first eight or nine games this season for us. Of course, the demands are really high of what we ask for, in kind of goals and assists from those players, without it being all about that. But Mary has taken her opportunity and now what Chloe has to do is work hard every day in training to be ready.

"I think that's the main thing, to be ready, and when she gets the opportunities, and today if we don't concede maybe she gets an opportunity, other times maybe not. But regardless, the levels have to be good and that's the same for all of the players and I think Jess [Park] is probably a case in point with that one, her attitude and her enthusiasm and her level of training performance was very good whether she played or not. I think that's a big plus for her."

The situation also comes at a time when Kelly is about to enter the final year of her contract in Manchester. Reports have suggested talks for a new deal have been put on hold until the end of the season.

Kelly will hope to get an opportunity to show what she can do next week, as City make the short trip to Liverpool.