Photo: Bryan Berlin / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Marc Guéhi, a centre-back by trade, was shifted into a holding midfield role by Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca for Saturday's 2-1 Premier League win over Bournemouth and earned the man of the match award.
Maresca has confirmed the England international is an option to reprise the role when City travel to Crystal Palace's Selhurst Park on Friday at 20:00 (UK), Guéhi's first return to his former club since his January move to the Etihad.
"I felt good and comfortable," Guéhi said ahead of the fixture. "There was a lot of work on the training pitch with the manager in the week before. I'm fortunate enough to have so many good team-mates around me and helped me before and during the game to feel at ease to step into that position. It was really enjoyable."
City's midfield options have been bolstered by the summer arrivals of Moroccan international Ayyoub Bouaddi and Elliot Anderson. Rayan Cherki also made an impact from the bench against Bournemouth, registering two assists including the corner that led to Guéhi's equaliser.
"[Rayan is] a fantastic player with such a fantastic future ahead of him," Guéhi said. "He's definitely made a difference coming on – and usually does in any game he plays."
Of Anderson, Guéhi added: "[Elliot] looks like he's settled in very well. It's still early days but so far, he looks very comfortable and like himself – I think we'll only see more and more and the best of Elliot."
Guéhi also welcomed Bouaddi: "[Ayyoub] is a very exciting young player with loads of potential and a great future ahead of him. I know everyone here will take good care of him, and everyone is excited to see him play."
Friday's trip to Selhurst Park carries personal significance for Guéhi, who spent several years at Crystal Palace before his January move to City. "[I'm] really excited to go back. A really emotional one for me – a club I spent so long at. It's a place where I developed and where the people helped me to get to where I am today. I'm extremely grateful to them."