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

Kelechi Iheanacho is willing to miss his flight to see his Manchester City career take off.

The 18-year-old is booked on a plane on Sunday to take him to New Zealand, where he will take part in the Under-20 World Cup with Nigeria.

While his international teammates have been training together in Germany this month, City have kept hold of Iheanacho, but Manuel Pellegrini seemed to pour cold water on the prospect of the striker or any other EDS starlets appearing against Southampton.

“We will keep the team that played the last game because we must try to keep the same performance that we did in the last game,” the manager said on Friday.

Determined to make his debut and undeterred, Iheanacho again shone for the Under-21s on Saturday, turning the game around for the Blues in their derby with two excellent goals.

And he is willing to delay joining up with the Nigerian team if Pellegrini gives him a shot against Saints.

"I don't know [if i'll be involved]," he told M.E.N Sport. "I play for City. If they tell me to come and play for the first team I will come and play. I'll change my flight."

His goals against United came after the break as City came from behind to claim a 3-1 victory. After the game he gave thanks to coach Patrick Vieira for an important team-talk.

"In the first half I was so nervous to play and I lost many balls," he said.

"It was a big game against United, my first game against them.

"But when I went in the dressing room at half-time the coach told me to work harder and be stronger, forget everything and concentrate. So in the second half it was a lot better."