Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has urged midfielder Samir Nasri to prove his worth if he wants a future at the club.
The Frenchman looked destined for the exit door after arriving for preseason overweight, but made a surprising first appearance of the season as a substitute in the 3-1 win over West Ham United on Sunday.
A brace from Raheem Sterling and one from Fernandinho put City back at the top of the standings with three wins in three.
Nasri, 29, came on for a 15-minute cameo and now has a chance to continue his time at the Eastlands.
"Nasri can stay," Guardiola told reporters. "Samir arrived overweight but after seven days, 10 days, it was fantastic how he trained. His quality is another level.
"It depends on him. If he wants to help us and stay to be part of something, it depends on him."
Guardiola also allayed fears of an injury to centre-back John Stones, who came off in the second half with an injury.
"Stones is not injured, I don't think so. I didn't speak to the doctor. I saw him tired and with problems, no injury.
"He had a little bit of a problem and did not win the duels. He might have been tired which is why we made the substitution."
Stones was replaced by Aleksandar Kolarov while Nasri came on for Spanish international Nolito.