Manchester City goalkeeper, Joe Hart, has sent a stern warning to Nigeria youngster, Kelechi Iheanacho and other aspiring academy players to step up their game or step out.
City has been criticised for their lack of emerging talents at the club since the takeover by Abu Dhabi United Group Investment and Development Limited in 2008.
Iheanacho, 19, is the first and only youngster to successfully make the transition from City's Elite Development Squad - yet, Hart feels any aspiring academy player must prove they can improve the squad.
City which has one of the best squads in Europe - boosting the likes of Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure, David Silva and most recently, Kevin De Bryune on their payroll.
And Hart - current England no 1 - who is the last academy product in the present squad, believes youngsters "have got to be better than what we've got" before they can be considered for the first team.
"People have to appreciate we have come to a point and to a level where we are trying to win everything. So, the fairy tale of bringing someone who lives next door to the training ground through - we all want to see it - but you have to be realistic," Hart told Sky Sports on Monday.
"The main thing is that the first-team does well, but we have a great set up now. It will only be a matter of time that players will start flowing from our academy, but they have got to be better than what we've got.
"If you're not better than what we've got, you cannot expect to come through. They are the standards being set and that is what they have got to aspire to."
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