Leroy faces a real fight to oust Mahrez from Pep’s side

THE downside of Leroy Sane’s return to fitness for City means Pep Guardiola now has a decision to make on which players he starts in wide attacking positions against Arsenal on June 17.

Last season Sane, Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva figured regularly in the title-winning side, as Riyad Mahrez adapted to his new manager’s demands over the course of the season.

Now though, after Sane’s injury last August, Mahrez has quietly gone about improving his output for City and has become one of Guardiola’s most important attackers.

Only Kevin de Bruyne has better all-round statistics in the Premier League this season among attacking midfielders.

Mahrez is fourth in the division for key passes from open play behind De Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Emi Buendia. When it comes to big chances created, only the Belgian (23) has provided more than Mahrez (14).

And among attacking midfielders or wingers, Mahrez boasts the best goals-per-minute ratio with a goal every 197.7 minutes. He also has one of the best records for shots on targets from those positions, with his 23 efforts only bettered by Mason Mount of Chelsea.

Strangely, team-mate Sterling must not be classed as an attacking midfielder or winger by the Premier League stats collators, as he averages a goal every 184 minutes and, like Mahrez, has had 23 shots on target this season.

But despite the England ace scoring more than Mahrez this term with 11 Premier League goals,

Mahrez has had a direct hand in more goals with seven goals and eight assists. Sterling has just two assists, and also falls short of Mahrez when it comes to key passes and chances created. So when the Premier League returns and City face Arsenal on June 17, perhaps it should be Mahrez who is the certain starter on one wing, with Sane and Sterling battling each other for a starting berth on the opposite flank.