... Gael Bigirimana was called up for international duty with Burundi.
Bigirimana is in line to earn his second and third caps for his country of birth who play Namibia home and away in an African Cup of Nations qualifier on Saturday and Tuesday.
Although he has been a peripheral figure in recent weeks due to the limit on the number of loan players allowed in a matchday squad, the fact that Jack Stephens, James Maddison and Adam Armstrong are on duty for their respective England age groups this weekend would have opened the door for the 22-year-old Newcastle United midfielder.
That view was reinforced by an impressive display in City’s 4-0 Under-21s win at Bristol City on Monday night, and manager Tony Mowbray was contemplating starting him against Peterborough on Friday.
“It’s a shame for him because he’s not played much because of the loan situation,” said Mowbray, “and then it’s just opened up and there’s potential for him to play, particularly if I’d have decided to put Romain Vincelot at the back.
“Gael was good in the 21s this week and really kept the ball moving around the pitch in the image I would like, moving forward, like he did at Bradford away when he controlled the game with the ball.”