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Dedryck Boyata announced his return to the big time in elegant fashion, with a beautifully executed slide tackle on Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery last week.

Ridiculously, the 22-year-old defender picked up a yellow card for the challenge, but that hardly mattered to a player whose career appeared to be heading into the wilderness just two months ago.

After playing out of position in a season-long loan at Bolton, and then being discarded by FC Twente halfway through another temporary move last season, Boyata appeared to be on a downward slope.

His resurrection is a timely one, as the Blues appeared to be heading into the season lacking a central defender after the departure of Kolo Toure and an injury to Matija Nastasic which will cause him to miss the start of the campaign.

But it is also symbolic for Manuel Pellegrini to reassure the young player that he will be part of his first team squad for the start of the season. Boyata is hoping to seize his second chance at City with both hands.

“I had several discussions with the coach, and this year, from what he tells me, he believes in me a lot,” he said.

“From what I know, I will get my chance this year and I intend to work extra hard to grasp it, when I get the opportunities.

“Last year, it was very difficult, especially mentally. I think I was patient all year and now it is another season.

“Having the opportunity to play in this kind of game (the Audi Cup final against Bayern), makes me really happy.

“The coach has confidence in me and wants me to stay in the core. When he told me this, I think after all that has happened the past year mentally, I just want to push myself to take my chance.

“Again, after the game, the coach told me he wanted me to stay. When he said that, I don’t need to think long - I’ll stay.”

The last two years have been hard for Boyata, but he claims the experience has made him mentally tougher and more determined to succeed.

“It was really hard knowing that when I returned to City, I did not have a chance at all. I’m 22, and the time is over when I was a youngster just out of the academy, who does not play.

“I am surrounded, as in previous years, by high-quality players, big names, but that helps me – I become more and more mature with that.”

If any player reflected the breakdown of the conveyor belt carrying players from academy to elite development squad and then into the first team, it was Boyata.

One of only two members of the 2008 FA Youth Cup-winning team to remain with the Blues – the other being Alex Nimely – the Belgian was singled out by former boss Roberto Mancini as a bright hope for the future.

Mark Hughes got the sack for some underwhelming performances, but the new owners were also unimpressed that City’s academy youngsters were not getting a chance.

It was noticeable that within a fortnight of taking over in December, 2009, Mancini had handed debuts to Boyata, Greg Cunningham and Abdi Ibrahim.

Boyata appeared to be the one who was most likely to stick. Mancini was sufficiently impressed to name him in the team for the Carling Cup semi-final against United – and

Boyata let no-one down as the Blues won the first leg 2-1.

His inexperience showed through in the second leg at Old Trafford as City went out, but he went on to make seven appearances that season, and was named young player of the year.

The calm assurance the 6ft 2ins defender had brought to the heart of the youth team defence seemed to be translating into first team excellence.

He began the following season well, scoring his first City goal in a 3-0 Europa League stroll against Timisoara, heading beyond Costel Pantilimon, now a Blues team-mate.

And after call-ups for his country’s Under-19s and under-21s, he received his first full cap as a substitute in the Euro 2012 qualifier against Austria in October, 2010.

Mancini was confident enough to play him at right back in the crunch match against Chelsea, and was rewarded with a solid display in a 1-0 victory.

Boyata made 17 appearances that season, but in the summer of 2011 Mancini bought Jerome Boateng for £11.5million, and Boyata was out in the cold.

He spent City’s title-winning season on loan at Bolton, unhappy at being largely played at right back, and last season had another uneventful loan at FC Twente – by January, the Dutch club’s manager Steve McClaren had sent him back to City, unwanted. There seemed to be no way back for Boyata, until fate intervened, Mancini got the push and new boss Pellegrini promised everyone a clean slate.

Kolo Toure and Maicon departed and City’s pursuit of Real Madrid stopper Pepe came to nothing, so Boyata’s horizons opened up one more. The youngster has seized his chance with a steady pre-season which has Pellegrini believing he deserves an opportunity.

Boyata has found Pellegrini’s fitness regime, intended to get his team in shape for a high-intensity pressing game, hard, but of great benefit.

“To be honest, the pre-season was very difficult, physically and tactically” he said. “Now it will show as we try to play with other systems, offensively and defensively.

“This is a coach who has a lot of experience and a lot of

positive results. He knows what he’s doing, but it will take a little time to get used to the team and assimilate.”

Former City star Dave Wagstaffe has died at the age of 70, following a short illness.

The Manchester-born left winger was a popular player at a tough time for the club, making 144 appearances and scoring eight goals from 1960 to 1964.

He was infamously punched by United’s Pat Crerand in the tunnel at half time of a Manchester derby, and went on to serve Wolves for 12 seasons.

He leaves his partner Val, two sons and a daughter.