Maresca's new wide man has made an immediate impression
Iliman Ndiaye has been a Manchester City player for barely 72 hours. By the sound of it, that has been long enough for Enzo Maresca to reach a fairly emphatic conclusion about his new winger.
Speaking to the media yesterday, the City boss was asked about the deadline-day addition from Everton and did not hold back.
"He's so good, he's so good. In the last two days, you can see already how good he is in terms of 1v1, in terms of in the last third, inside the box. I'm very happy to have him with us."
High praise, and perhaps a hint that Ndiaye's first start for the Blues is not far away. The question is whether it comes this afternoon.
An ideal opening?
City welcome Coventry City to the Etihad for their third Premier League outing of the season. It is the first of five matches in fifteen days across all competitions for Maresca's side — a congested stretch that will demand rotation.
Coventry, for their part, typically set out to play attacking football, or at least attempt to. That could leave space in behind for a player whose chief currency is beating opponents one-on-one. Ndiaye, after all, is among the best in the division at exactly that.
There is no fitness concern to hold him back. The 26-year-old Senegalese international has already played three times for Everton this season, so match sharpness is not an issue. He arrives at City having earned the move through performances for both Sheffield United and the Toffees.
The only caveat is the obvious one: Ndiaye has been a City player only since Tuesday. A debut from the bench is just as plausible as a start. Yet with five games in fifteen days looming, Maresca may feel the time is right to give his newest signing a proper run-out against a side who will not simply park the bus.
Either way, the early signs have clearly pleased the manager. Whether Ndiaye lines up from the first whistle or is introduced later, the sense is that his moment is approaching quickly.