Pearce told City’s website: “This season has been fantastic for Ishmael because he has been around the first team all the time this year. He has travelled with the squad and made a number of appearances.
“What he has to do is keep adding to that experience. I said the same things to him and Daniel Sturridge and Ish is probably slightly ahead of Studge at the moment.
“He has to force his way into the 16 and then when he gets on the pitch he has to have an impact.
“I have given Ishmael a bed on which to flourish and now he has to keep nudging me in the right direction so that I cannot leave him out of the 16.
“Ishmael asked me a couple of weeks ago if I thought he would benefit going out on loan and I said yes, but I couldn’t afford for him to be away from the Club at the moment.”
