Manchester City coach Andy Welsh insists the NextGen series has been good for their young players.

Victory over Marseille at Hyde's Ewen Fields tonight would still leave City missing out on the knockout stages after a narrow opening defeat by Barcelona raised hopes.

But Welsh told City's website: "Regardless of our results, we have benefited enormously from our involvement in the tournament.

"We know we have to raise our standards because we have certainly conceded too many goals.

"We've mixed the squad between Elite Development Squad and Academy groups, and involved players who will benefit from the experience in the long run, regardless of age.

"This NextGen Series is the way forward, to continue to test our standards, and 99 per cent of our current squad will be eligible to play in next season's competition."