Early signs suggest Anderson was worth the wait — and the money

Three Premier League games into his Manchester City career, Elliot Anderson has already played more minutes than some summer signings manage in half a season. The £116m man from Nottingham Forest has started all three of City's opening fixtures and completed 90 minutes in two of them.

Not bad for a player who joined barely a week before the season kicked off.

Anderson's display in Saturday's narrow win over Coventry at the Etihad was his most convincing yet in sky blue. He imposed himself on the game, won the ball back for his side and helped keep a persistent Coventry outfit at arm's length. It was the kind of performance that justifies a club-record fee — even if that particular crown only lasted a very short period before City's next big-money arrival.

What the managers saw

Enzo Maresca has been impressed since day one. Speaking after the Coventry game, the City boss pointed out that Anderson was not just good on Saturday, but had also caught the eye against Palace and Bournemouth — a considerable feat given he had only been with the squad for a week before the season began.

"The best thing about Elliot is the day-by-day: he's asking how he can learn, we sit with him, one-on-one video, we're doing many things."

Maresca's enthusiasm is telling. The Italian sees a player hungry to improve, and he values that in a squad where competition for places is fierce.

"He wants to be better! If you want to be there, you need options. Arsenal have options, we have options, more teams have options."

Coventry boss Frank Lampard, watching from the opposite dugout, came away equally impressed. It was the first time he had seen Anderson up close, and the former Chelsea midfielder liked what he saw.

"A really good player. I admire him from afar. Very talented, very smart. I think he's going to be a very good midfielder for Manchester City."

From Old Trafford's radar to the Etihad

Anderson's move to City came after a summer in which Manchester United also explored a deal for the midfielder and even discussed making him captain. In the end, the fee proved beyond their reach. City paid the £116m and got their man.

While he is expected to operate primarily as a number eight, Saturday's performance showed Anderson is equally comfortable dropping deep when required, slotting into a box-to-box role without fuss. That versatility will serve him well as Maresca rotates his options across a long campaign.

Three games in, the early signs are encouraging. City's record outlay looks increasingly like money well spent.