He didn't get in the Citeh team at the end of the season, due to Zabaleta playing well, maybe roy thought he was out of form? I would have taken him though, regardless of game time.
Players need to play.
If you go to a big team and are a bit part player, then don't moan when your not picked, someone who has been an ever present for the last 3 months of the season will win any day over someone who plays once every 4 games.
Form and Fitness are not proven so an easy choice for international managers and easy reasoning to why they have left them out.