Van’t Schip also said Arzani’s City teammate and friend Denis Genreau was another exciting prospect for the future.

Genreau was loaned to Zwolle this season and played 10 games in the Eredivisie under van’t Schip until the former City coach was let go by the club after a run of poor results.

Van't Schip added that the 19-year-old French-Australian had a bright future ahead of him, despite picking up a virus after his call-up for the national team’s friendly against Kuwait in October.

“Denis was one of the many players that were new,” he said.

Genreau at Socceroos camp

"From the start he was very quick in adapting to the way we wanted to play because we had a good preseason.

"Denis was growing into his role at that moment, we had a player injured (Younes Namli) who played there the year before and we put Denis in his position and he played well in the preseason.

“He started the first game in the league and from that moment until October, he played every game, started and had a very good role.

“Since October, he’s been struggling, but hopefully he can get rid of the virus and I’m sure he can have a good impact in the second part of the year with the club.

“He has a bright future, he’s young and has played 10 games in Eredivisie and that says enough. He showed he has the capacity to perform at a high level, he was getting used to the intensity.

"In the beginning he couldn’t cope longer than an hour, but then he was able to get through 90 minute games and had an important role for the team.”