Get the day's biggest City stories delivered straight to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

There will be a couple of familiar faces when Man City face Schalke in the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday and none more so than Matija Nastasic.

The Serbian defender was once considered one of the best young defenders in the Premier League after he made an excellent start to life in England at just 19 years old.

He won a Premier League title and an FA Cup runners-up medal alongside the personal accolade of Young Player of the Year during his first two seasons at City before a serious knee injury stunted his development and he never made a regular return to the side.

He played 51 times for City before leaving on loan for Schalke in January 2015 and moving permanently to Germany the following summer.

Nastasic, now 25, harbours no ill-will to his former club and is looking forward to facing the Blues in the knockout stages.

“I have to be honest, I didn’t expect that we would be playing City, but when I saw the draw I was really happy because I will come back to Manchester and see some old faces,” Nastasic told the City website.

"When I was in City, I was really young. In the beginning it was perfect for me but at the end, not so successful.

"But I have to say I enjoyed every day I was with the Club and I am proud that I was part of Manchester City.

“All the people who worked and still work at the club were fantastic and professional.

“I am really looking forward to playing again at Etihad because I had some great memories there and I can say only good things about the club.”

Nastasic could line-up alongside another City old boy in 18-year-old Rabbi Matondo, who could be set for a quick reunion with his old side.

The Welsh winger departed City in January in the search for regular first team football and he made his full Bundesliga debut in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Freiburg.

Schalke are having a poor domestic season but Nastasic says home advantage could play its part in the first leg.

“We all know how strong City are, so we have to be on our best if we want to do something," the defender said.

"But at our stadium we have a great support every game and that will be to our advantage.”