Aleks Zinchenko believes Aymeric Laporte will add value to Manchester City ’s defence AND attack after his return from injury.
The 25-year-old centre-back played his first game for four months as the Blues won 1-0 at Sheffield United, and managed 75 minutes.
He is expected to step that up with more playing time against Fulham in the FA Cup on Sunday and is tipped to figure against Manchester United in the second leg of the Carabao Cup final next week.
City’s defence has leaked goals in his absence, managing just six clean sheets in 18 Premier League and Champions League games without him.
But Zinchenko , who has benefited in the past from playing alongside a centre back who combines physical aggression and football excellence, thinks he brings much more than defensive solidity.
“He is an important player for us, everyone knows that, especially me,” said the Ukraine international. “I am so happy for him because I have seen maybe not the whole way he was coming back but probably most of it and the way how we was working hard on his recovery was amazing, so he deserved it.
“He is a quality player and of course he can protect my back, sometimes when I am jumping forward.
“He is still young for a centre-back and you should say he can still learn a lot but he is a player with experience. He has played a lot of games and he knows this position very well, especially with the ball he makes our game quicker, especially with the left foot in his first ball, his first pass.”
