Erling Haaland topping the latest Premier League player rankings leads Wednesday’s City news and talking points.
Rayan Cherki has climbed into the top 10, Iliman Ndiaye is making a good early impression, and Enzo Maresca has given the players staying behind during the international break a couple of weeks off.
Haaland named Premier League’s best player
Haaland remains No.1 in The Athletic’s latest ranking of the Premier League’s 50 best players. The Norwegian leads a sizeable City contingent, with 10 of Maresca’s squad included.
Elliot Anderson is fourth, Cherki 10th and Enzo Fernandez 13th. Jeremy Doku, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Antoine Semenyo, Ruben Dias, Marc Guehi and Phil Foden are also on the list. Haaland has five goals from City’s opening five Premier League games and seven in seven in all competitions.
Cherki into the top 10
Cherki has jumped six places from 16th to 10th after his start to life under Maresca.
He set up both goals after coming off the bench against Bournemouth, scored twice at Crystal Palace and added another in Sunday’s 5-3 win over Sunderland.
The Athletic described the 23-year-old as perhaps the league’s most “mercurial and purely talented” player, while also pointing to the occasional inconsistency in his game. There’s been more attention on him during the international break too.
Cherki has caught the eye of new France boss Zinedine Zidane during his first camp under the new manager.
Ndiaye impressing City’s coaches
Iliman Ndiaye has only been at City for a few weeks, but his work on the training ground has already been noticed.
The Senegal international’s attitude, application and work rate have reportedly impressed City’s coaching staff following his deadline-day move. Hugo Viana has also been discussing why City paid up to £65m for Ndiaye.
The sporting director highlighted Ndiaye’s versatility, with the former Everton forward able to play from either flank, as a No.10 or through the middle. He’s made three Premier League appearances so far, starting twice.
Two weeks off for players staying behind
There won’t be much group training at the City Football Academy over the next fortnight. Maresca has given the players not away on international duty two weeks off, with Phil Foden, Matheus Nunes and Allan among those staying behind.
Jeremy Doku hasn’t joined up with Belgium following his recent injury and could spend some of next week at the CFA continuing his recovery. Maresca will be staying in Manchester himself. He joked after the Sunderland game that his children being at school had ruled out going away.
City’s next game is at Liverpool on October 11.
Haaland and Dias back in action on Thursday
Haaland doesn’t have too long to wait for his next game. Norway host Denmark in the Nations League at 7.45pm on Thursday, with the game available on Prime Video in the UK.
Ruben Dias and holders Portugal face Wales in Lisbon at the same time, while Abdukodir Khusanov could be the first City player to feature when Uzbekistan meet Iran in a friendly at 3pm. Haaland and Dias could then be opponents on Sunday when Norway host Portugal in Oslo.
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