Leroy Sane was omitted from Manchester City’s eighteen-man squad in the Sky Blues’ most recent game against Newcastle at Etihad Stadium.
The German, who also missed out on Joachim Low’s World Cup squad, cut a disconsolate figure as he watched on from the stands while City earned their third victory of the new season.
It seems staying at home during Germany’s disastrous campaign in Russia was merely the tip of the iceberg, and Leroy Sane has still yet to make a competitive start since the end of last season.
Perhaps most peculiar about his treatment in the embryonic stages of this term is the fact the former Schalke man was one of Pep Guardiola’s most reliable performers in the record-breaking campaign. His electric pace and guile, shown in flashes when he made a cameo appearance in City’s 6-1 trouncing of Huddersfield, was fundamental to the Sky Blues’ success.
And, it might hurt Guardiola to say it, but Manchester City have lacked invention in their latest matches against Wolves and Newcastle, and that could be a contributing factor as to why many are so baffled with Leroy Sane’s minimal involvement this term.
Guardiola was quick to defend his winger when he suffered his first disappointment at the beginning of summer, as Julian Brandt pipped him for a World Cup spot. But the Catalan manager has done Sane’s confidence no favours, by leaving him out of the City squad altogether.
There are no rumours of any skirmishes behind the scenes, and with City looking for methods to cope without the talismanic Kevin de Bruyne, it makes the Sane debacle even more convoluted as pundits and fans alike search for reasons why the German is bereft of playing time.
And, reports that other squad members are fearing for their places in the eleven are emerging. And so they should. The treatment of Sane is inexplicable, and ostensibly it looks as if Guardiola has cherry-picked one of Manchester City’s most quality players, and put him aside from all Premier League plans.
That is worrying enough, and the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Riyad Mahrez – who have admittedly underperformed of late – might have reason to ponder over the security of their spot in Guardiola’s lineup.
Will Leroy Sane be back in action sooner rather than later?