Hoping to cut Blades down to size – again
PEREZ WANTS TO EMULATE DISPLAY AT SHEFFIELD UTD
CONTROVERSIAL: Phil Foden wasn’t given a penalty despite appearing to be fouled by the Saints goalkeeper
AYOZE Perez will hope to be given a chance to pull off a repeat performance against Sheffield United after returning to training.
The Spaniard has missed City’s last six games in all competitions since his brief run-out against Liverpool last month ended in a knee injury.
He was pictured back on the pitch at City’s headquarters at Seagrave yesterday and could be pushing for a start against the Blades given Brendan Rodgers’ lack of attacking options.
Perez was one of five forwardthinking players absent from last weekend’s win at Brighton – with James Maddison, Harvey Barnes, Dennis Praet, and Cengiz Under also out – so his comeback is timely, particularly as he has already proven he can get the better of Chris Wilder’s side.
Back in December when the sides met at Bramall Lane, Perez was a surprise inclusion in the line-up, in what was his first start in 11 games.
And yet he scored the opening goal and was one of City’s better performers in the 2-1 win.
If he was to come back into the side this weekend, Rodgers may opt for a set-up briefly on display at the end of last season, when Maddison was initially out with a hip problem.
Then, City played in a 3-4-1-2 system with Perez in the hole behind a strikeforce of Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho.
Perez has said previously that the number 10 role is his preferred position, rather than on the right wing or up front.
Playing that formation helped City record a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace during Project Restart, and had them 1-0 up at Bournemouth before Rodgers changed things at halftime, leading to an infamous defeat.
The set-up would allow Rodgers to keep the front-line of Vardy and Iheanacho intact after its success over recent games. Iheanacho has been able to give Vardy greater support, while the number nine’s movement has opened up space for his strike partner, who has scored two in two.
On the combination with Vardy, Iheanacho said: “I like playing with
SURPRISE INCLUSION: But Ayoze Perez played well and scored in the 2-1 win at Sheffield United in December him, because he can run behind and it gives me options, or he can get the ball and go deep, and I can make runs off his shoulder as well, so it’s a really good role for me to play.
“I like playing with him and it’s working great for us but when he’s not around I can play by myself.”