Manchester City could unearth the latest talent from their youth setup in the coming months.
The Citizens have been providing manager Pep Guardiola with young players who can fill out his squad in recent years.
The likes of Rico Lewis and Oscar Bobb have proved pivotal during various stages of this season.
Another who is garnering attention is Kian Noble, who earned praise from under-18 head coach Ben Wilkinson.
"It's getting the balance," Wilkinson told the Manchester Evening News.
"Ultimately, our job is to develop first team players - ideally for our first team but you can look at a center-back at 16 or 17 and think 'he's probably not for our team but he can be a very good Championship or Premier League defender'.
"Someone like Kian Noble for example has done exactly the same role as John Stones, stepping into midfield at times and he's comfortable in there. Lakyle Samuel has done well stepping in from center-back. There's definitely something in that.
"Two years ago we had Rico playing right-back without the ball and either as a number six or eight with the ball. The skill of it is knowing the players and also what the team needs and individual needs. Someone like a Kian or a Lakyle, who has that technical or tactical level, you would probably do it. Then there's others who maybe think it's not the best thing for them.
"It is something you have your eye on what the manager is doing and how that fits to our players. If we can give them those experiences it can help them on those occasions they go to the first team training. Kian and Lakyle have been there, so it's something you definitely have to be aware of."