City defender Josko Gvardiol is enjoying an impressive start to the season after a broken leg kept him out for five months last term.
The Croatia international suffered the injury in January and returned to make two appearances in May. Four months on, he is playing regularly under Enzo Maresca and making an impact at both ends of the pitch.
Gvardiol has also revealed that the full healing process takes considerably longer than the five months he spent on the sidelines.
“At least a year before everything heals inside,” he said.
Gvardiol finding his best form again
City signed Gvardiol from RB Leipzig for £77m in 2023, with his ability to play both centrally and on the left giving his manager options across the defence.
Last season was interrupted by the broken leg in January. Although Gvardiol was able to get back on the pitch before the campaign ended, two appearances in May were only the beginning of his return to regular football.
He has looked much more like himself this season.
Maresca has predominantly used Gvardiol at left-back, with Ruben Dias and Marc Guehi among his options in the middle.
Our earlier look at City’s centre-back options under Maresca showed the competition available across the back line.
“Everyone has to fight for their position, no-one is secure,” Gvardiol said.
Gvardiol makes his mark for City
Gvardiol has done rather more than simply hold down his place.
He scored an injury-time winner against Bournemouth before providing the assist for Erling Haaland in the Manchester derby.
Those contributions have come during a run of six successive City victories in all competitions since the 3-0 Community Shield defeat by Arsenal. Maresca’s side have also conceded only twice across their opening four Premier League matches.
A BBC Sport interview with Gvardiol describes him as a “soldier”, with his versatility continuing to be useful to Maresca.
The difference from last season is fairly stark. Gvardiol spent five months unable to play; now he is starting regularly and contributing goals and assists.
Gvardiol settled at Man City
There was another indication of City’s faith in Gvardiol during the summer when he signed a new five-year contract.
Our report on Gvardiol’s new Man City deal has the full details.
“Happy” was his simple response when asked about extending his stay.
Attention now turns to Sunderland, with Maresca describing the game as City’s “toughest” of the season so far “because of how good they are.”
Our Man City v Sunderland preview has the latest team news and head-to-head record.
Gvardiol’s comeback happened in May. What City are seeing now is the next stage: a player getting regular football again and beginning to look much more like the one they signed from Leipzig.
The leg may take longer to heal completely, according to Gvardiol himself. On the pitch, there are increasingly few signs of what kept him out for those five months.
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