Iheanacho replaces Nasri in Manchester City's Champions League squad

With midfielder Samir Nasri not expected make his return from a thigh injury until late March, Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has decided to replace the Frenchman with budding forward Kelechi Iheanacho in the club's Champions League squad.

"It's always difficult to tell a player he will not continue in the list, but Samir understood perfectly that he needs at least two months more," said Pellegrini. "It wouldn't have been easy for him to recover his best performance in that length of time.

"We needed another striker and Kelechi is in a good moment."

Clubs must finalise their 25-man Champions League squads by Tuesday.

Iheanacho is coming off a hat-trick performance in Saturday's FA Cup win over Aston Villa, and Pellegrini sees an opportunity for the 19-year-old to make his European debut. Striker Wilfried Bony remains out of the lineup with a calf problem, and winger Kevin De Bruyne is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines, giving Iheanacho hope of earning playing time in either last-16 fixture against Dynamo Kyiv.

"Kelechi is one player in our squad - it's important when young players have the option to show why they're an important player," Pellegrini said. "He will continue trying to fight to start every game."

The Nigeria international has eight goals and four assists in 18 appearances for City this season - the majority of which have come off the bench.