Anyone with eyes can tell that Bernardo Silva is enjoying a fine season so far for Manchester City, but it's always nice when the stats back it up.
After a difficult couple of years in which Bernardo 's form dipped to the point that it appeared as though he might actually leave the Etihad this past summer, he has refound the form that made him such a crucial part of City's 2018/19 Premier League winning side.
Since the opening day defeat to Tottenham, the Portuguese has started every game in the league and Champions League, showing how important he has become to Pep Guardiola, and has put in a string of brilliant performances in the middle of the park.
Bernardo's ability on the ball, to carry it from deep to attack positions in a game's transitions, is what makes him so vital to the side and it's of no surprise that he tops the 'progressive carries' stats for centre-midfielders so far in the league this season.
A 'progressive carry' is defined as an instance in which a player dribbles with the ball for at least five metres upfield.
According to Opta, Bernardo is at the top of the table in that department for midfielders, having completed 110 progressive carries so far in the campaign.
His closest competitor, with 106, is West Ham stalwart Declan Rice and the pair are the only two to reach triple figures.
In third place comes Chelsea's Mateo Kovacic with 80, followed by Bernardo's teammate Rodri who has registered 73 progressive carries and, on 71, the top five is rounded off by Southampton bruiser Oriol Romeu.
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