SANE DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN, PEP

LEROY SANE’S long-awaited return for Manchester City has given Pep Guardiola a selection dilemma ahead of tomorrow’s Premier League restart.

Sane (above) has recovered from the serious knee ligament injury he suffered in the Community Shield back in August and is pushing for a place to face Arsenal.

However, Sane’s commitment to City is being questioned because the Germany star has refused the club’s offer of a new contract and has just 12 months left on his existing deal. The winger is a longterm target for Bayern Munich.

His injury, coupled with the coronavirus and his contract situation, has impacted on Sane’s value. He is now worth significantly less than the £140million the Blues felt he could fetch 12 months ago.

City are chasing the Champions League and FA Cup, and boss Guardiola must now decide what part Sane should play in this bid.

Ex-city midfielder Michael Brown says playing the 24-year-old is a no-brainer. “He’s been a big miss for Manchester City,” said Brown.

“You see Raheem Sterling coming in off the lines from one side, you’ve seen Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva out in those wide areas, but what Leroy Sane gives you is that pace, that power, that direction. He wants to push it past the full-back and get in the wide areas, getting crosses in.

“He’ll be key for Manchester City and Pep Guardiola to give them another option in forward areas.”

Sane played in an 11 v 11 game for Guardiola’s squad at the Etihad at the end of last week and says his injury was the hardest he has had to overcome in his career.

The German said: “You have to push yourself every day because you know it’s a long rehab.

“But it was a good opportunity to work on weaknesses and that’s why I took it as a chance to recover well and come back strong.”