Nathan Ake has made just 10 league appearances this season for Manchester City but Paul Stewart, who was relegated to the Second Division in 1987 with City, has exclusively told The Transfer Tavern that he expects the Netherlands international to play more next season.

After spending hundreds of millions on defenders since he arrived at the Etihad, Pep Guardiola now appears set on his two centre backs in Ruben Dias and John Stones, with the latter taking his chance and being set to be offered a new contract.

Ake was signed for £40 million last summer following Bournemouth's relegation to the Championship, but he has picked up several injuries this season which has seen him miss 105 days of the campaign to date.

It has been reported in the Netherlands that Ake is going to consider his options this season but if he can stay fit then the centre-back will be handed more game time. Those are the thoughts of Stewart, who spoke exclusively to The Transfer Tavern about the Dutchman:

"I'm not sure they'll let him go because they bought him for a reason and I think we'll see a lot more of him next season. Man City don't need to sell though, do they? That's the luxury they have.

"'I'm sure Nathan will want to play more and while John Stones has been terrific this season I don't think he's nailed on in that team. So, I think it's probably between Ake and Stones, vying for one position alongside Dias."

Recently the £92,308 per week defender has found first-team appearances a lot easier to come by as Guardiola has rotated his side with one eye firmly focused on winning the Champions League this season.

After a poor start for City which saw them fail to win seven of their opening 13 league games, Guardiola's side ended up storming to their third Premier League title in four seasons.