ROD'S RETURN CAN MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE

CITY have plenty of brilliant match highlights to enjoy whenever they want. At the minute though, there is a lot of excitement simply for a man passing a ball.

- SIMON BAJKOWSKI

Erling Haaland scored in a bril- liant Premier League win at Spurs last week before Nico O'Reilly bagged a brace in the FA Cup, yet the most thrilling footage for many has been the sight of Rodri back in training.

The Ballon d'Or winner is still months away from a return, having only just begun individual work with the ball on the grass.

But a combination of how much he is loved at City, how much he has been missed, and how few people expected him to be so advanced in his recovery means there is great delight at seeing him carry out the most basic of football drills.