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Lescott fed up of warming City's bench

Joleon Lescott has not played in the Premier League since City's victory over Blackpool on October 17 © PA Photos

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Joleon Lescott has admitted he will look to leave Manchester City if he cannot earn more regular playing time as he believes he will soon lose his England place.

The £24 million signing from Everton has been behind both Vincent Kompany and Kolo Toure in the City pecking order this season, and has often been deployed as a left-back when he has played.

With Roberto Mancini even preferring Belgian teenager Dedryck Boyata on occasion, Lescott admitted he is considering his future and would be open to a loan if his salary and fee ruled out a permanent move.

"I'm not happy with the situation," Lescott said. "I don't enjoy sitting on the bench, and sometimes not even making the bench. That [a loan move] is down to myself and the club. The club might say 'If there's a chance to play, go and play' and, if not, I will have to stay here."

Lescott was a first-team regular for City after former boss Mark Hughes signed him from Everton in August 2009, but despite racking up 17 Premier League starts in his debut campaign, his chances were limited in the second-half of the season, with Kompany and Toure preferred by Mancini following his arrival at Eastlands.

However, the former Wolves defender insists he has no regrets about moving to Manchester and promised he would be ready to step in and prove his worth if City were to suffer any defensive injuries in the coming weeks.

"The squad's big and there is a lot of quality here so I knew it wasn't going to be a foregone conclusion that I was going to start every game,'' he said.

"You have to respect the manager's decision and it's warranted because Kolo and Vincent have been outstanding so far this season, but when I've gone in I think I have done okay. I've never regretted my decision to come here.

"Mark Hughes was in charge at the time and I was playing every game but, even now, I still don't regret it. It's unfortunate that I'm not playing as much as I'd like, but you just have to get on with it sometimes. I'm a professional and level-headed person. I know situations come and go.

"Next week there might be an injury and I could be backin the team for the rest of the season. I just have to be ready for that, in case it happens.''

Lescott has retained his England place to date - starting the Three Lions last three matches, but he believes that might soon change if he does not get in the City team.

"Fabio [Capello] has kept his confidence in me when other players have gone down with injury and I'm grateful for that but there's going to come a time when, if I'm not playing for City, I'm not going to be in the England squad as well,'' he said.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.