Could Dedryck Boyata Have Helped Manchester City This Season?

Dedryck Boyata is one of the few recent products of Manchester City's youth squad that got a real look with the first team. While a year ago, Boyata was registered it appeared to just meet the homegrown requirement for registration within the Barclays Premier League and his summer sale to Celtic was no cause of concern, now perhaps the answer should be revisited?

Since the Blues were willing to loan Jason Denayer out this season perhaps Boyata should have been kept around for another season as cover for both the centre back and right back positions. What has become abundantly clear is that the injuries the Blues have suffered to the back four this season have exposed the suspect depth which the club has. Boyata as a homegrown player simply could have been registered under the Premier League's 25-man squad limit - Manchester City only registered 21 players because the club only has four senior pros that meet the homegrown requirement.

Question to our readers. Could Boyata have helped this season? Or is the more obvious answer that City should not have loaned out Denayer. It is pretty clear from where I sit that one or both could have helped the side.