Frustrated Lescott wants to leave Manchester City

(GSM) – Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott admits he might soon move away from the club in order to play regular first-team football.

The former Everton defender, who signed for City in a £24million deal in the summer of 2009, is concerned that his place in the England squad will be threatened if he does not play regular football.

Roberto Mancini’s first-choice central defensive pairing of Vincent Kompany and Kolo Toure has impressed and Lescott has spoken of his unhappiness at his current situation.

“I’m not happy with the situation. I don’t enjoy sitting on the bench, and sometimes not even making the bench,” he said.

Lescott says he would even consider a loan move away from Manchester City.

“That’s down to myself and the club,” Lescott said. “The club might say ‘If there’s a chance to play, go and play’ and, if not, I will have to stay here.”

However, Lescott insists he does not regret making the switch to the Eastlands.

“The squad’s big and there is a lot of quality here so I knew it wasn’t going to be a foregone conclusion that I was going to start every game,” he said.

“You have to respect the manager’s decision and it’s warranted because Kolo and Vincent have been outstanding so far this season, but when I’ve gone in I think I have done OK.

“I’ve never regretted my decision to come here. Mark Hughes was in charge at the time and I was playing every game but, even now, I still don’t regret it.

“It’s unfortunate that I’m not playing as much as I’d like, but you just have to get on with it sometimes. I’m a professional and level-headed person. I know situations come and go.

“Next week there might be an injury and I could be back in the team for the rest of the season. I just have to be ready for that, in case it happens.”

“Fabio [Capello] has kept his confidence in me when other players have gone down with injury [Lescott has started the last three matches] and I’m grateful for that but there’s going to come a time when, if I’m not playing for City, I’m not going to be in the England squad as well,” he said.