Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has challenged the club’s academy players to force their way into the first team squad.

The Citizens are set to face Huddersfield in their FA Cup fifth-round replay, with the winner set to meet Middlesbrough in the quarter-finals of the competition in March.

The former Barcelona manager has challenged the club’s academy players to force their way into the first team by showing their quality on a consistent basis.

‘Of course, we are involved in the Academy here. I said in the past I am pretty sure there are four or five guys who are coming through,’ Guardiola told the Manchester City website.

‘It depends on them, it depends on what people think, it depends on their manager, it depends on their quality.

‘Always we can give a hand to play, that’s all we can do. Now they are being helped by the coaches in the second teams in the Academy.

Guardiola admits there are a number of academy players who have the quality to make it into the first team, including the likes of Aleix Garcia, Pablo Maffeo, Angelino, Brahim Diaz and Tosin Adarabioyo, all who have been given a taste of first-team action this season.

‘They are four or five guys, maybe more, we believe they have enough talent to help us in the future and we will be delighted. But it depends on them and depends on their quality,’ he added.

Aleix Garcia, Pablo Maffeo, Angelino, Brahim Diaz and Tosin Adarabioyo have all been given a taste of first-team action this season, having played significant roles in preseason games, but as yet, none has managed to cement a place in Guardiola’s starting XI.

Guardiola admits it’s difficult to hand them regular starting places in the squad, but he insists that opportunities are available for the most talented young players in the academy.

Pre-season is pre-season. We get to know each other and there were people who weren’t here. It is normal [for young players] to play more regularly,’ Guardiola said.

‘Now we have had a few injured – tough, tough injuries like [Ilkay] Gundogan and Gabriel Jesus, but with the other ones, we have had not too many injuries. That’s why it is not easy to play in the big games.’

Manchester City will next take on Huddersfield Town in their FA Cup fifth-round replay on Wednesday.

The match at the Etihad Stadium kicks off at 21:45.