Dunne: Guardiola will expect more from

JACK Grealish is facing a crucial summer in his City career after a solid but unspectacular debut season following his £100m move last year.

And now former Blues captain Richard Dunne has urged the forward to build on his first campaign as a Blue by working hard in pre-season and follow the example of team-mate

Riyad Mahrez in kicking-on. Grealish admitted his first season was ‘harder than I thought’ in the aftermath of City’s Premier League title win, adding that he has been caught in two minds between expressing himself and wanting to keep the ball and stick to Pep Guardiola’s instructions.

With that in mind, Dunne says Grealish will be stronger for his experiences next year. Speaking to

M.E.N. Sport on behalf of Bet365, he said: “It’s a hard one because I wouldn’t say he’s had a bad season, he’s just probably not showing the same importance to Man City as he did at Villa which is obvious because he’s ahead of the players at Villa.

“But he’s done alright in what he’s been asked to do and it isn’t just coming in and playing as a normal left-winger, he has to do different things - there’s different tasks asked of the Man City players in these positions.

“I always go back to Riyad Mahrez who found it very difficult for the first few months and didn’t play a lot and eventually he earned the trust of the manager and improved as a player so I expect the same from Grealish next season.

“It’s the development period and the learning period is coming to an end now and next season he’ll have

had a pre-season to prepare and to go on and really show his stuff.

“Grealish is caught between expressing himself and doing what the manager wants, and he will understand that a little bit better next season. When he dribbles with it nobody wants to tackle him and everyone backs off and if we can see that more, Jack will enjoy it more and the club will benefit.

“It’s hard because he’s judged by his value rather than what he’s actually done on the pitch,” Dunne explained.

“People expect him to score and assist in every game.

“His performances have been okay, it’s just people want more for £100m but it will come, I don’t think when I’ve watched him I’ve never felt that he’s underperformed, he’s probably done his job on the day and that’s what the manager would have asked of him.”