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James Milner will decide on his City future after seeing how many games he plays this season.

The Blues midfielder has been talking to the club about a new deal, and City want him to sign a new long-term deal, with his current contract expiring next summer.

But the enhanced terms are of no interest to Milner – he has made it plain that his judgment will be swayed entirely by his involvement.

The 28-year-old England star has made two starts and three substitute appearances this season. Not only did he start in Sunday’s thriller against Chelsea, he was man of the match in the eyes of many observers.

But last season he started just 12 league games and came on as a sub in 19 and, even though he is valued by Manuel Pellegrini an the City hierarchy, he wants more football – or will be off on a free transfer next summer.

“I have a year left and have spoken to the club,” said Milner, who is in line for another start in tonight’s League Cup third round tie against Sheffield Wednesday.

“I love it here and would love to stay at Manchester City but first and foremost I am a footballer and want to play football. Hopefully I can play enough games and will be here for the long term.

“You want to win trophies, and I have been fortunate enough to do that, but I want to do that and ideally play in enough games.

“It’s an amazing club to be at – I have won trophies, it has great fans and I am playing with some of the best players in the world. If you get that game time as well, it is perfect.

“Sunday was my second start of the season and I would like a few more. I understand I won’t play in every game, I just want a fair crack of the whip, a few more games than I got last year.

“You have to perform as well, and that is never easy when you are in and out of the team. I want to play as well as I can, and the more you play the more you can show what you can do.”

One of Milner’s frustrations is that, despite some important performances last season, he was constantly benched for the big games – he was a sub in home and away games against Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and United, in five of City’s eight Champions League clashes and the Capital One Cup final.

That record has already improved this season, as he has started at Arsenal and wt home to Chelsea – snd he has even been used in his preferred position of central midfield a couple of times.

But after being a sub for the first four games of the season, he was also dropped to the bench by Roy Hodgson for England’s two internationals earlier this month.

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The fact that his club selection may affect his prospects for his country also has a bearing on Milner’s thinking.

“When you are getting the game time, it’s amazing, but when you are not playing it is frustrating because you want to contribute,” he said. “But that is all part of being at a big club – all I can do is work as hard as I can, when I get chance I have to play as well as I can and make the manager keep picking me as much as possible.

“We have had talks, but I want to see how it goes. Hopefully I will play enough games and can be at City for the long term.”

Milner is expected to line up against Wednesday, and he says no-one is taking the Championship side, or the cup, lightly: “Every competition is big,” he said.

“The Champions League is a focus because we haven’t really proved ourselves in Europe yet and have won everything domestically.

“But it is important we try to win every single game, and that means trying to win every trophy. We won it last year and that was amazing, and we want to go and win it again.

“We have to recover after Sunday and go again, but the mentality in the dressing room is that we don’t see any games as lesser games.”