A returning midfielder will have an important role to play for Manchester City | OneFootball

Mateo Kovacic has yet to play a minute on the pitch for Manchester City so far this season. The Croatian midfielder had surgery on a troublesome Achilles injury at the end of the 24/25 season. Kovacic is nearing a return to the pitch after resuming training with Pep Guardiola’s squad ahead of the current international break. When he returns to the pitch, Mateo Kovacic will have an important role to play for City as his experience and guile in midfield will be of great importance to Pep Guardiola’s side.

Manchester City need Mateo Kovacic on the pitch for his experience and ability to play across midfield.

There is a wealth of experience in midfield in Pep Guardiola’s squad. Rodri and Bernardo Silva know precisely what is required by their manager when playing in midfield. Tijjani Reijnders is an experienced player, but is learning what is required to play in the Manchester City midfield. The signs have been there recently that Reijnders is grasping his role. Nico is learning the Rodri role, and is coming along as a player. Phil Foden has played as a midfielder this season, but his role is different to what Mateo Kovacic adds to Pep Guardiola’s side. Mateo Kovacic knows exactly what Pep Guardiola needs from his midfielders, and his experience will be a key ingredient for his team.

Alongside his experience, Mateo Kovacic is a threat going forward when playing in the number eight role. That is Kovacic’s best position, and with Nico and Rodri playing as the number six, we shouldn’t see Kovacic have to play as a number six all that often. If Kovacic can return, and quickly regain his form and touch in his preferred role, he should remain an important squad member for Manchester City. The Croatian international should be able to give Tijjani Reijnders rest when required as well, and that could be invaluable to Pep Guardiola’s side.

Summary.

Mateo Kovacic does feel like the forgotten man at Manchester City. As he is yet to play this season, what he adds to the City squad can be overlooked. But when fully fit, the experience, guile and ability of Kovacic will be important to Pep Guardiola’s side. In a team that has lost the experience that Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne provided, Kovacic’s experience will be vital for Pep Guardiola’s side. The hope is that he can return to the pitch as soon as possible to give Pep Guardiola another quality midfield option to utilise as the fixture list ramps up for Manchester City after the current international break.