MAX ALLEYNE was only dreaming of Wembley play-off glory on loan at Watford 11 days ago – now he hopes to win the lot with Manchester City come May.
Pep Guardiola’s side put one foot in March’s Carabao Cup final with a 2-0 semi-final first leg win at Newcastle.
And despite trailing Prem leaders Arsenal by six points, rookie defender Alleyne, 20, is confident their title charge is far from over with City also still in the Champions League and FA Cup.
And the England Under-21 international appears confident City can better the incredible 2023 treble-winning campaign with a big finish to the season. He said: “That’s what we’re hoping for. Hoping to stay in every competition and win as much as we can.”
The 6ft 1in centre-half, son of former England and Gloucestershire cricketer Mark, was a colossus at the back in Tuesday’s victory at St James’ Park.
His first clean sheet in a City shirt capped a whirlwind week that all began with an unexpected return to the Etihad from his loan spell at Watford.
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Guardiola recalled Alleyne amid the club’s defensive injury woes with Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and John Stones all out.
Within 48 hours, Alleyne had made his Premier League debut in the draw with Brighton and followed that up with his first goal in Saturday’s 10-1 FA Cup win over Exeter City.
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He added: “Yeah it’s been crazy. I keep saying it, but I’ve loved every second. I wouldn’t change it for anything.
“I’m not saying I didn’t enjoy my time at Watford, but at the end of the day, this was the ultimate goal: to be back here enjoying my football and playing and I’m really enjoying it.
“It was just all so sudden. I heard from my agent first while I was with my girlfriend and her family. Then it was straight in and ready to train the next day.
“We [him and Guardiola] caught up in the morning. He knows what my qualities are and knew me really well from the academy days. He knew what he wanted from me and what I could bring to this team. So we caught up and it was nice.
“We’ve not had a lot of time, but he’s so consistent in what he wants from us as a team and everyone knows their roles perfectly. So it makes it easy.”
Next up for City is Saturday’s Manchester Derby at Old Trafford with Michael Carrick starting his interim spell for United as head coach. But Alleyne is keen to ruin Carrick’s return to the dugout.
Alleyne said: “I was just taking it game by game, but now I’m super excited about my first one [derby] and first experience of it. I’m sure the atmosphere will be amazing. So, yeah, I’m looking forward to it.
“We’ll talk about it and deal with it tomorrow and the day after. I’ve really developed a bond with [Abdukodi] Khusanov, so it’s been really good playing with him. I’m looking forward to more.”
Alleyne admits that when he headed to Vicarage Road in the summer he was too soft. Though the rough and tumble of playing Championship football, where he made 16 appearances for at Watford, has helped bring out his aggressive side.
The former Southampton trainee, who has won 92 per cent of his duels since returning to City and all six of his aerial battles, added: “It’s something I’ve been really trying to work on and it was probably one of the things in my game that I wasn’t as good at before.
“I went out on loan and just being at Watford really helped me with that. It was different from anything I’d experienced before.”
And City boss Guardiola was quick to praise the Hornets for aiding Alleyne’s development.
Guardiola said: “I can’t be more thankful and grateful to Paulo Pezzolano and Javi Garcia at Watford. Going to Watford in the Championship with strikers, long balls… Wow, they made a step up as a football player.”
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