Manchester City players are returning to the club after international duty and some have more to prove than others

Jack Grealish and Rodri celebrate City’s winner in the Champions League final (Image: Marvin Ibo Guengoer – GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)

Manchester City are back in action on Saturday when they face Brighton.

It will have been a long fortnight for Pep Guardiola waiting to try and leave behind consecutive Premier League defeats for the first time in five years, yet there is no talk of crisis at the Etihad. Indeed, if the Blues win they will return to the top of the Premier League for at least a few hours.

City’s stars have been around the world representing their national teams over the past two weeks but return looking to find the rhythm and flair that they lacked in losing to Newcastle, Wolves, and Arsenal. As the Blues embark on a run of six games in the next four weeks that include a Champions League double header against Young Boys and testing away trips at United and Chelsea., some will have more than others to prove.

Rodri

Rodri has already apologised to his teammates for the ridiculous red card he picked up against Forest, and the matches without him have shown how important he is to the side. Starting with Brighton at home, the Spaniard needs to get right back to his level as the best midfielder in the league while showing none of the stupidity that caused his suspension in the first place.

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Jack Grealish

It isn’t that Grealish has been bad, but he is still searching for the form he showed when he was at least one of City’s best players from January up until they won the league. The former Villa man is still battling to nail down a spot in the England team and has had his place under Guardiola threatened by new boy Jeremy Doku.

The manager explained his reasoning for leaving Grealish out at Arsenal but that will still have hurt, even as he worked his way back from injury that disrupted the start to his season. The 28-year-old needs a run of games to find his feet again and remind everyone what he can bring to the team.

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Erling Haaland

It is now three matches and 369 minutes without a goal for Erling Haaland in a City shirt. That would not be terrible for any other striker but does represent the second-longest drought of the Norwegian’s career at the Etihad.

Losing Rodri definitely hit the creativity to find Haaland, yet at the same time the striker has had enough chances that he should have more than the eight goals he has mustered so far this season. A home league game against a side that hasn’t kept a clean sheet all season looks like the perfect way to kickstart him back into goalscoring form.

Mateo Kovacic

Kovacic is another who has to show restraint. The former Chelsea midfielder was fortunate to stay on the pitch against Arsenal, making a daft tackle minutes after picking up a yellow card that other refs would have sent him off for. Kovacic shone alongside Rodri at the beginning of the season and can use his teammate to get back to what he does best rather than flying into fouls.

Source: manchestereveningnews.co.uk