Manchester City: Pep Guardiola to experiment with Fabian Delph in new position?

Manchester City midfielder Fabian Delph is finally back fit. But for how long will Delph actually stay a midfielder under Pep Guardiola?

Fabian Delph looked to be a decent value signing for Manchester City for just £8 million in the summer of 2015. But since then, Delph has only featured in 20 Premier League games for the club.

Injuries have severely hampered the 27-year-old’s chances of proving himself at the Etihad Stadium. Delph even featured rather prominently for Pep Guardiola in pre-season but, once again, injuries struck.

Delph made his return to the City first team earlier this month in a FA Cup mauling of West Ham United. And then made a substitute appearance during City’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham last weekend.

So, now back fit once again, what does the future hold for the former Aston Villa and Leeds United player? Delph has been linked with a move away from City, either this January or in the summer. But Delph himself has rejected any talk of him leaving City already.

And now there are reports that Delph could be set to be fielded in a new position at City under Guardiola. Delph is known as an energetic, box-to-box midfield player who likes a tackle. But the Manchester Evening News speculates that Guardiola may well see Delph’s future at left back.

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Guardiola is short of options in defense and the idea makes sense on a few levels. Despite Delph being known as a midfielder, he does not have the passing range and efficiency that Guardiola prefers in his midfielders.

However, Delph does have the energy, work-rate and enthusiasm that Guardiola demands in his team. Delph is left footed and would also be comfortable tucking into a midfield role as Guardiola likes his full backs to do at times. It’s easy to imagine Fabian Delph galloping up and down the left wing as a left back.

Obviously, Guardiola wants more than just energy in his full backs. But with options short – including Aleksandar Kolarov playing at center-back more than left back – it may well be an experiment that gets a run-out in the second half of the season.

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There are doubts over both Kolarov and Gael Clichy ahead of the summer. Perhaps Fabian Delph can manoeuvre himself into a backup left back role in the time that remains of the season? The first thing Delph needs to do is stay fit, of course.

But if he can do that, maybe a new role does await him.