Stoke City coach on why ‘fantastic’ loan star could play for Man City next season

Taylor Harwood-Bellis has the ability to play for Manchester City next season, according to Stoke City assistant manager Dean Holden.

The former Bolton Wanderers and Oldham Athletic defender exclusively spoke to ManchesterWorld in the build-up to Sunday’s Manchester Remembers charity game, and said he’s been hugely impressed with Harwood-Bellis since joining the club on loan.

The youngster moved to the Potters in January and has been a mainstay of the team ever since. In fact, the centre-back has not missed a single minute since joining the club and looks ready to compete in the Premier League.

That’s exactly where Holden sees Harwood-Bellis playing in the next few years, and he believes the City youth-team product, who has already made eight senior appearances for the club, could even compete for a place in Pep Guardiola’s star-studded squad next season.

“He’s a fantastic young football player, with a brilliant attitude,” Holden told ManchesterWorld. “He’s come in with his eyes open and ready to learn, which is fantastic for a young player.

“He’s had a brilliant loan out at Anderlecht and now he’s cracking the Championship, as he’s done previously with Blackburn and now at Stoke. He’s a player with a big future as long as he keeps his feet on the ground.”

Asked whether Harwood-Bellis could have a long-term future at the Etihad Stadium, Holden responded: “I think that’s down to him, and he really does have the ability to play for Man City.

“Whether that happens is due to international recruitment and the money City can spend on players; it’s always going to be a challenge for a young player. But you see it there with Phil Foden and players like Liam Delap coming through.

“It’s all there for Taylor. He’ll go back to City in the summer and no doubt train with them in pre-season. If he impresses there, I’m sure he’ll get an opportunity.”

Supporting a worthy cause

While Holden believes Harwood-Bellis could soon be playing regularly in Eastlands, it’s the Stoke assistant who will be putting his boots on at the Etihad Campus this weekend.

Holden is part of the ‘Legends XI’ who will face a team of celebrities on Sunday at the Academy Stadium, as part of the Manchester Remembers charity game, to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Manchester Arena bombing.

All the money raised from the event will be donated to charity and for Swinton native Holden, it’s a cause that is especially close to his heart.

“To be part of something that means so much to the 22 families and all the people that suffered that night means a lot,” he explained.

“I lost my daughter 10 years ago now and I can relate to what they’ve been through - the most incredible pain you’ll ever go through. But at the same time, things like this when you come together, especially in Manchester where everybody supports a cause like this, it doesn’t half bring a lot of hope as well.

“I think on the back of the Covid situation, it’ll be nice to be in a stadium full of people who are there to have a good time.

“You always get a good game because there are loads of celebrities who are younger and fitter than us ex-players,” Holden added. “We might have the brain, but we don’t have the body and the legs for it. That’s why these games are always fun.”