Manchester City U23 coach Brian Barry-Murphy admits they're unlikely to release players on-loan this month.

James McAtee and nine other youngsters have been needed on the first team bench recently due to senior absences.

"I have quite a lot of experience with the loan market," the former Rochdale manager told the Manchester Evening News.

"There will be a host of clubs in a lot of countries that will want our players.

"The club will have some ideas, and at the moment I'm not aware of any of our players leaving on loan.

"If that changes, it has the knock-on effect of when we've lost players to injury, younger players will come into the fray.

"From our point of view it's a no-lose situation, it's making sure all of our players get as much action as possible and if that involves going on loan to enhance that, that'd be good."