Blues left with issue to Mend...

AFTER convincing themselves that left-back needed reinforcing for this season, City shelved those plans before the summer in order to spend the money on a centre-back instead.

The opportunity to bring Angelino back from PSV Eindhoven on the cheap presented itself, Aleks Zinchenko had enjoyed a purple patch during the back end of the last campaign and Benjamin Mendy’s injury problems surely couldn’t extend too far into a third year, right?

Two months on from the closing of the transfer window, City look light on centre-backs having not spent the money they planned to when deciding not to buy a left-back – and whether they look light on left-backs still depends on your outlook on Mendy.

After what the club website enjoyably referred to as an ‘impressive contribution’ this season, the Frenchman was forced to miss another game through injury.

Forty-five minutes against Preston North End and 90 against Dinamo Moscow is all Pep Guardiola has got from his £50m full-back this season.

The latest diagnosis suggests a hamstring injury should not keep him out longer than the next fortnight, but his fitness issues are an ongoing concern and each of City’s options in that position comes with their own problem.

Angelino still has a lot to learn at 22 and has not been able to convince he can be first-choice, while Zinchenko is more suited to a central position further forward where he can more easily dictate the game through his skill rather than testing his pace and defensive positioning.

Joao Cancelo, preferred over both Joao Cancelo and, right, Angelino natural left-backs against Wolves, was most involved in the game – positively and otherwise – when he moved inside onto his right.

Also, playing him on the left removes the point of signing him in the first place – what incentive is there for Kyle Walker to improve his concentration and distribution if there is absolutely no pressure on his place in the team?

Cancelo does have his qualities and his selection against Wolves could be seen through blue-tinted glasses as more evidence of strength in depth for Guardiola. With Mendy’s injury though, it looks more like another round hole for a peg that remains immovably square.

While Guardiola is used to having his selections questioned by people with far less managerial success than he has, it must be frustrating that left-back remains so problematic more than two years since the club spent a record amount on Mendy.

Barring dramatic transformations in the form of the three left-backs they have, it does not appear a problem City will be able to escape from any time soon.