Shea Charles says he has no regrets about leaving Manchester City, but it was not an easy decision.

The midfielder left the treble-winners for Southampton during the summer transfer window. The teenager earned his Premier League debut for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at the end of last season, but he felt a move to Southampton would boost his first-team chances.

It meant leaving his boyhood club, and while it wasn’t an easy decision, the 19-year-old believes he made the right decision to further his growth.

“It’s my boyhood club, so it wasn’t easy, but it was clear that Southampton was the right option for me,” he told the Belfast Telegraph. “The manager plays a good style of football that I enjoy, so that drew me to the club.”

“I think the move is huge because I play against men every week, and coming into the (international) camp allows me to come in and go straight into the games and play the way I like to play.”

“I thought I did alright, I thought I did well, just playing that sitting role (in midfield) which I like and then going to right back in the end,” he said of his performance for Northern Ireland against Slovenia, a 4-2 defeat that effectively ended any hopes of qualifying for the European Championships in 2024.

“I can play other positions, so I thought I did well.” It’s a fantastic feeling to feel like I’m just another member of the squad.”