Nastasic deserved recognition – Lescott

Joleon Lescott has expressed his surprise that Manchester City team-mate Mateja Nastasic was not even nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.

The young Serb arrived at City in August 2012 and after taking a while to settle into life in the Premier League has gone on to become a regular alongside Vincent Kompany, something that has left Lescott spending more time on the sidelines.

Despite his younger team-mate taking his place Lescott felt Nastasic had been hard done by not receiving a nomination for the end of season awards.

“I have no gripe with him,” he said.

“You don’t begrudge someone who comes in and does well.

“It was a bit
00004000
harsh he was not nominated for PFA Young Player of the Year.

“He plays beyond his years and if he was English he would have had a lot more recognition.

“He’s not a glamorous sort of player who comes out with the ball. He just does his job exceptionally well.”

Lescott’s appearance against West Ham last weekend was only his 14th start of the season and he admitted that would need to change if he was going to add to his 26 caps and be part of the England squad at the next World Cup, should they qualify.

“It would be tough to have another season like this,” he added.

“I’ve only started 14 games and that is not great going into a World Cup.

“If my place in the squad was secure at international level then it would be a little bit easier.

“But I only got into the last squad by default.

“It was a reality check and made me realise I need to make a decision and it needs to be the right one for my career.”

Lescott has been a regular in City’s FA Cup side this season as manager Roberto Mancini has looked to give some of his fringe players a taste of first-team action, and the defender hopes he will be able to add another trophy to his collection before deciding where his future lies.

“This is a special club to me,” he said.

“I feel like we’ve done a lot together and I’d love to stay, but I am not naive enough to think I’m definitely going to.

“If at the end I can say I’ve won two FA Cups, the Premier League and a Community Shield during my time at City then it wouldn’t be too bad would it?”