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Over the past 14 months, the Spanish midfielder has remained mostly unavailable due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained versus Arsenal, managing a mere 588 minutes for Manchester City because of a series of setbacks, the latest of which excluded him from the midweek 4-1 win over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. Although Pep Guardiola has mentioned that “he is not expected to be sidelined long,” the 29-year-old stands as fundamental to the manager’s system. Here, we examine the replacements …

Nico Gonzalez

“The go-to alternative in the event that Rodri is out is absolutely Nico. Nico is making steps forward,” the City manager said prior to Sunday’s 3-1 success versus Bournemouth. Measuring 6ft 2in and aged 23 at the time he was acquired for a substantial sum from Porto this season, the midfielder is almost replica of Rodri. Actually, Guardiola labeled the former Barcelona player as a “young Rodri” last season, but against Bournemouth there were times when he was pressured and lost possession in midfield in a manner Rodri, in top form, would avoid. That is little shame, nevertheless, in not being in the same league as the Ballon d’Or winner.

Kovacic

The extended absence of City’s other holding midfielder to an ankle problem could be a test for City should González also suffer an injury during Rodri’s absence. Kovacic has impressed often for City since moving to the club from Chelsea for £25m in June 2023 and boasts a resume that makes clear he is a top-class talent. His past employers encompass Dinamo Zagreb, Inter and Real Madrid. He holds a glut of titles to his name, like one La Liga title, one Premier League title and four Champions League winner’s medals.

Rico Lewis

The young defender has accumulated 103 outings for City, roughly a 25% of which were as a defensive midfielder. The homegrown player is proficient in the spatial awareness, control, challenges and energy the position calls for in a Pep’s side, yet the manager has cited Lewis’s 5ft 7in height as a limitation in that role. “It’s necessary to have physicality, for clear reasons,” he said. “The need was reduced [needed] in Barcelona, Bayern Munich [Guardiola’s previous clubs].” Approaching 21 later this month, Lewis is young and has room for development.

John Stones

“His contributions to the pitch is outstanding ability as a centre-back and perhaps as a pivotal No 6.” The perspective expressed by Thomas Tuchel and one that echoes Guardiola about the ‘versatile star’. Among Stones’s 408 club games, 27 were as a deep midfielder and he excelled in that role when advancing from central defence to play next to Rodri in City’s European triumph over Inter. “The all-round vision was the toughest for me,” Stones admitted about playing in the position. “I haven’t got that – I feel I’ve developed, but that’s from figuring out where to take possession and how to handle it in particular moments.”

Tijjani Reijnders

Reijnders joined City from Milan during the off-season as a replacement for Kevin De Bruyne. As he stated at the this year’s Club World Cup: “The No 8 position is why they [City] got me. Now it’s up to me to occupy that role and give my all to show that I deserve to start.” As González nursing a knock, Reijnders was deployed as a holding midfielder in the previous 1-0 loss at Aston Villa and was shifted upfield when the Spaniard entered the field around the 60-minute mark, the incident providing a snapshot of where he stands in Guardiola’s considerations, namely as a backup.

Matheus Nunes

The Brazil-born Portugal international has made merely nine times as a holding midfielder throughout his career and his only appearance in the position for City coming against Nottingham Forest in September 2023. He played the entire match and contributed an goal-setting pass in a 2-0 triumph.

Kalvin Phillips

City’s overlooked player is still only 29. He has also operated as a deep midfielder on 164 times throughout his career and performed adequately in the role to be called up by England. However, it is clear he does not have the confidence of Guardiola.