Ahead of Manchester City's 2-1 win against West Ham on Sunday Pep Guardiola insisted that while he would like his side to sign a number nine, he is comfortable playing with a striker-less system.
The main reason why he is happy to persist with that approach - despite having Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus available - is that he can call upon pretty much any of his attackers to play as a false nine.
Well, almost any.
Riyad Mahrez is the most one-dimensional of City's attackers, an observation that is not as disparaging as it sounds.
He is one of the best wingers in the world, capable of running rings around the best defences in the game.
During his time at City, though, he has rarely strayed from his natural habitat on the right-wing. The Algerian is advertised as a left-footed right-winger who cuts inside, and that is pretty much all he does. Again, not that this is a particular problem when he does it so effectively.
He has never looked as versatile as, say, Jesus. On Sunday the Brazil international started on the right, moved to centre forward and finished he match on the left flank.
It was therefore surprising to see Mahrez play as a false nine in the opening 20 minutes against West Ham and do it well.
While he has played there a couple of times - trips to Leeds United and Manchester United last season spring to mind - he hasn't played centrally as much as his attacking colleagues. The success he had in the role on Sunday begged the question, why not?
During his 20-minute cameo in the centre before moving back to the wing, Mahrez did all the things Guardiola wants from a false nine. He made dangerous runs into the box, he dropped deep to give Rodri more passing options and he linked up well with Jesus and Raheem Sterling.
He even found the back of the net when he ran on to a Sterling through ball, although the VAR retrospectively chalked the effort off for a marginal offside. The finish was nevertheless emphatic. Of all City's false nine options, Mahrez is arguably the best finisher.
After 20 minutes Guardiola changed tactic, preferring to have Jesus in the central role and Mahrez out wide. It was from the right that Mahrez provided the assist for Ilkay Gundogan's opening goal, after receiving an excellent cross-field Joao Cancelo pass.
There's no doubt that Mahrez is better on the wing and, when City do eventually sign the striker that Pep craves, they will not employ a false nine as often.
But in the meantime, there seems no reason why Mahrez shouldn't play centrally when needed. He proved he can be just as versatile as his teammates, and that will have pleased Guardiola.
Do you think Mahrez played well in the false nine role? Follow City Is Ours writer Alex Brotherton on Twitter to join the conversation and let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
