Sane: Pep has picked me up

LEROY SANE has credited Pep Guardiola as the main reason behind his remarkable transformation after a stuttering start to his Manchester City career.

The German winger, right, initially struggled after his £37million summer move from Schalke and made only two Premier League starts in the first three months.

But since scoring the winner against Arsenal – City’s opponents this Sunday – in December he has not looked back.

He has seven goals and several assists and believes Guardiola has fulfilled his promise to develop him. “He has improved me in all areas,” said Sane, 21. “It is a lot of fun to work with him. He expects a lot from me but that helps every single player move forward. It’s more about doing my thing well in training and that intensity, he is trying to get the best out of us. “When I signed, he said he wanted to improve me tactically, and work on my weaknesses. I can safely say up to now he’s done everything he said he would.” PHIL JAGIELKA believes the horrific injury sustained by team-mate Seamus Coleman will provide added motivation for Everton in Saturday’s Merseyside derby with Liverpool at Anfield. Coleman suffered a broken tibia and fibula in the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against Wales. Jagielka, left, said: “The circumstances of the last few days might add a bit of a motivational edge on our behalf.”

SHAUN WRIGHT-PHILLIPS’ son D’Margio is following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather Ian Wright after being named in the England Under-16 squad.