Pep Guardiola might have unplanned solution to Man City full back problem

At one point in the summer, it looked like Manchester City would be embarking through the season with just two senior full-backs, as they began the campaign with one of their four centre-backs injured. After 10 games, four of those six defenders have spent time out with injury, emphasising how strong the need for new signings was.

When Sergio Gomez arrived to ease the pressure on Joao Cancelo and Kyle Walker, Pep Guardiola namechecked Aymeric Laporte, Nathan Ake and John Stones as players who could deputise at full-back if needed, along with academy talents. It was accepted, however, that if that situation was required it would place unwanted stress on City's healthy stock of centre-back options.

Then, as the season began, Walker, Ake and Stones all got injured, to go with Laporte's longer-term absence. The options became stretched sooner than City will have hoped, and the solution was to buy a fifth central defender.

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It was unplanned, but the decision to move late in the transfer window for Manuel Akanji was a £15m arrival that has already justified itself.

Not only has Akanji proved in his three outings that he is a quality defender, with the ability to adapt quickly to City's system, but he has also eased the burden on the full-back area — possibly unintentionally. It would be a surprise to see Akanji used as a deputy full-back, especially so early in his City career, however it is less of a shock to see John Stones shifted over to the right in Walker's absence.

Even though Stones is far from a natural full-back, he has always done a good job in that position when required, and his thunderbolt of a goal against Borussia Dortmund was