Manchester City: Nolito ban perfect opportunity for Leroy Sane
Manchester City will be without suspended Spanish forward Nolito for the next two games. Can Leroy Sane step to the fore and show just why Pep Guardiola brought him to the Etihad?
Manchester City are absolutely flying under Pep Guardiola in the early goings of the season. Nolito is just one player of many who have impressed during that time. But City and Guardiola will now be without the forward for the club’s next two fixtures.
The Spaniard received a red card against Bournemouth in City’s last Premier League fixture. A subsequent three-game ban followed, but Nolito has already served one of those games against Swansea City in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.
Two more will follow, though, and the ban means that Leroy Sane could now receive more time to shine. Sane arrived with much fanfare from German outfit Schalke 04 in the summer, but is still warming up as far as this season goes.
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Sane cost City £37 million but is also viewed as one for the future as much as he is the present. Still, that doesn’t mean the German can’t turn a few heads whilst Nolito is sitting out his suspension.
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Nolito only cost City £14 million and is already proving a bargain buy. The forward scored two goals against Stoke City as Guardiola’s men notched a 4-1 win at the bet365 Stadium. Nolito has been a constant threat throughout City’s games, but his absence may not make things any easier on City’s opponents.
Sane is lightening fast. The German also has good vision and passing ability. Goals are in his locker, too. Sane has a lot of raw tools and Guardiola is just the man to harness them. The 20-year-old needs full games, however, to improve and not just substitute appearances.
Guardiola has an array of attacking players and could well decide to go in a different direction when it comes to selecting his team for games against Swansea and Tottenham. Jesus Navas provides one option. Kelechi Iheanacho, who could play wide, another.
Kevin De Bruyne or David Silva could also shift out wide given the emergence of Ilkay Gundogan from the treatment room. But Sane is the individual who would benefit most from the game time. The transfer fee can also be a burden and what Sane really needs more than anything is an eye-catching performance and a goal.
That would firmly announce his arrival at the Etihad. Sane is still awaiting that real announcement performance. That breakout showing. It will come. And with Nolito out for a few games, it might come sooner rather than later.
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