Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola explains decision to drop Leroy Sane against Newcastle

Guardiola claimed to be happy with Sané's attitude and his cameo appearance at Wolves

Leroy Sané is yet to start a Premier League match for Manchester City this season (Getty)

Pep Guardiola has backed Leroy Sané to respond to being dropped from Manchester City’s match-day squad and denied suggestions he is unhappy with the winger’s attitude.

Sané is yet to start a Premier League match for Guardiola’s side this season and was omitted from the 18-man squad for Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Newcastle United.

Last season’s PFA Player of the Year was also surprisingly left out of Germany’s World Cup squad by Joachim Low earlier this summer, reportedly due to concerns about his attitude.

Guardiola denied that he had dropped Sané for similar reasons after City’s victory and claimed his omission was simply down to the number of options he has in attacking positions.

“Last game, Phil Foden was not in the squad. I was so sad for Phil, I’m so sad for Leroy now but we have a squad. Sometimes I have to leave [players out],” the City manager said.

“We have six strikers and I decide to play with two strikers. We have two wingers plus another one on the bench. That’s why we decided this game: don’t be there, try to work hard again and in the next games he will be ready to play.”

Guardiola insisted he was happy with Sané’s attitude and spoke positively about the 22-year-old’s cameo appearance in last weekend’s draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers, which was criticised in some quarters.

“He played 10-12 minutes, he tried,” Guardiola said. “He was not precise but he tried. They know me, they convince me, I am satisfied the moment they run and they do everything.

“Mistakes on the ball and taking decisions are part of the process. It’s no problem.”

Sané has made a total of four appearances for City so far this term, spending a total of 75 minutes on the pitch, with his only start coming in last month’s Community Shield win over Chelsea at Wembley.