Even if the 33-year-old opts to continue playing, the more relaxed pace of the United States or even Qatar would probably offer more appeal than the frantic cut and thrust of the Barclays Premiership.

Either way, it is virtually certain McManaman will be leaving City, with no chance of the former Liverpool star being offered the same terms as his current deal, which expires in the summer.

Nevertheless Pearce, once an England team-mate of the midfielder, is not about to consign such a vast amount of experience to the sidelines.

And, after watching him come through a midweek reserve team outing without a problem, the City boss is ready to bring McManaman back into the first-team fray for Saturday’s trip to Fulham.

“Steve has every chance of getting back into the side before the end of the season,” said Pearce.

“He has had a series of niggling injuries that have affected him quite a lot but we kept patching him up to get him on the pitch.

“That situation wasn’t good for us and it wasn’t good for the team. So, instead of pulling him back into the squad last weekend, we gave him a bit more intensive training and played him in the reserves on Tuesday.

“He produced a performance that was a great example to all the young players around him.

“He has a great CV and has been very professional since he came to us. If he is playing well, he can definitely break back into the team.”

It is only three seasons since Pearce finally hung up his own boots, although at 40, he did admit age had started to catch up with him.

McManaman’s position is entirely different, with the Liverpool-born player vowing he will not hang around merely to pick up a fat pay cheque if he does not feel he is capable of justifying it.

“I don’t think Steve is talking about retirement as a threat,” said Pearce.

“It is more a reaction about where he is at the moment and how he feels within himself.

“It is a big decision because once it is made, that is it. Maybe it was easier for me because I had too much time on the clock.

“Steve is not at an age where you would automatically think about retirement but he has been around for a long time and if he is not enjoying playing bit-part football, he will do what he thinks is right.”

McManaman could easily find himself on the bench at Craven Cottage, where he is likely to be joined by Shaun Wright-Phillips.

It was expected to be at least another week before the highly-rated winger returned from his cartilage operation but after playing a full part in training since Monday, Pearce is happy to rely on the 23-year-old’s natural high fitness levels make up for a lack of match sharpness.

“Shaun is fully fit and training,” said Pearce.

“He has not had a reserve game yet but I would consider anyone who has trained with the main squad for a full week.

“We are delighted with his progress and look forward to welcoming him back.”

When he took over from Kevin Keegan five weeks ago, Pearce could barely have dreamed he would be in a situation where he would be omitting Wright-Phillips from his starting line-up, yet the 11 who began last weekend’s win over Liverpool surely deserve another opportunity.

The magnitude of victory over Rafael Benitez’s men, which retained City’s outside hopes of European qualification next term, was put into focus by the Reds’ safe passage into the Champions League semi-finals in Turin last night.

And it leaves Pearce – whose side remain the only team to have beaten Chelsea in the Premiership this term – in a handy position to pass on information to AC Milan or PSV Eindhoven, depending on who advances from the other semi-final.

“If they did phone, the managers of AC Milan and PSV Eindhoven will probably also ask how we only managed a draw at home against West Brom,” said Pearce, reflecting on the two best victories of City’s campaign.

“Chelsea and Liverpool are are decent sides but I am looking for consistency and over the past couple of years we have not had it.”