Rayan Ait-Nouri has made one appearance for Manchester City this season. That is the stark sum of his campaign so far, and it came in the most encouraging of circumstances.

He was introduced from the substitutes' bench in City's opening UEFA Champions League league phase fixture against FC Porto. Within minutes he had laid on an assist for Erling Haaland's second goal of the night at the Estádio do Dragão. City won 2-0, and Ait-Nouri's contribution from the left wing was a reminder of what he can offer going forward.

Yet when City travelled to Old Trafford last Sunday and beat Manchester United 1-0, Ait-Nouri was not in the matchday squad at all. One promising cameo, then nothing. The contrast is hard to ignore.

Enzo Maresca's view of the player goes some way to explaining the situation. Speaking ahead of the derby, in quotes relayed by Hayters TV, the City manager framed Ait-Nouri not as a defender but as an attacker.

"When he was at Wolves, I know he was playing back five, so it was more wing-back than full-back. In this moment, I see him more winger than full-back. But that means that in the future, if we need him as a full-back, we are not going to use him? Probably yes (we will use him there), but in this moment, yeah, he's more a winger."

Maresca added that Ait-Nouri's technical quality and one-v-one ability make him well suited to an attacking role. "I think technically he's very good, also in one-v-one he's good," he said. "In terms of passes, the other day he made good assists for Erling."

So the manager rates him. The problem is where to put him.

At left-back, Nico O'Reilly and Joško Gvardiol are firmly established. When Gvardiol was unavailable for the Porto match, Maresca turned to Abdukodir Khusanov to fill in rather than Ait-Nouri. That tells its own story.

Further forward, the left wing is just as congested. When everyone is fit, Jérémy Doku and Antoine Semenyo are the first options there. On the right, Semenyo, Phil Foden, Iliman Ndiaye and Rayan Cherki can all operate. Ait-Nouri's route into the starting XI is not obvious.

What he offers is not in question. He is technically gifted, excels with the ball at his feet, and his passing range is exceptional. But so far this season he has been on the periphery of the City squad, and the Porto cameo remains his only outing.

City's next match is their third round Carabao Cup tie against Norwich City. If Ait-Nouri starts and impresses, more minutes may follow. For now, he waits.