Ferna could return to his midfield role

FERNANDINHO could be City’s surprise weapon in midfield as they look to claim the FA Cup and Champions League.

Pep Guardiola has spent the season using the veteran Brazilian at the heart of his defence.

However, with Aymeric Laporte and Eric Garcia starting together in defence again at Southampton, Fernandinho played in a role more similar to the holding midfield job that he made his own.

Guardiola has made no secret of the fact City’s priorities for the season are winning the knockout tournaments they are in, with Premier League fixtures being used as opportunities to help that preparation - especially now that a top-four finish has been secured to guarantee Champions League football next season should the Blues be able to compete.

With Laporte - as well as John Stones - free from injury again and Garcia now trusted more as an option in central defence, Guardiola is happy for Fernandinho to play further forward as he plots the best way to get past Arsenal and Real Madrid and closer to another two trophies.

“Yeah, definitely, he can play there,” he said. “Definitely. We knew it.

“He played in central defence to help us and I’ll always be incredibly grateful for that.

“He made the step to help us play in this position when John and Aymer were injured, we had just Nico and Eric but Eric wasn’t much involved. Now we have Eric in this position, so he can go back to play in the central midfield position.”