Manchester United v Manchester City: Could Pep Guardiola play Raheem Sterling as lone striker in Sergio Aguero’s absence?
Despite having Nolito and Kelechi Iheanacho, the Spaniard has not ruled out shifting the former Liverpool man up front
RAHEEM STERLING could be deployed as a lone striker against Manchester United tomorrow.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has revealed the former Liverpool man is an option to play up top, but that the style of play will have to adapt.
With Sergio Aguero beginning his three-match ban for an apparent elbow aimed at West Ham's Winston Reid, Guardiola has some decisions to make.
Speaking ahead of the much-anticipated Manchester derby tomorrow, Guardiola said: 'I think he can play as a striker if we need.
'If you need a striker for the crosses, no. If you need a striker to move between the lines - movements behind the back four - he can do that.'
Guardiola is no stranger to playing a midfielder as the furthest man forward. At Barcelona he would often use Cesc Fabregas up top when Lionel Messi was unavailable.
But with Nolito and Kelechi Iheanacho already impressing, it would raise some eyebrows if Guardiola shifted Sterling up top from the wing, especially as he has just been named player of the month.
Sterling has turned his form upside down since the arrival of new manager Guardiola at City.
The 21-year-old paid tribute to Guardiola for helping him turn his form around last month, saying:
“The manager’s been in the game a long time, won stuff, worked with young players, worked with great players, and he knows how to get the best out of his players.
“He’s been a massive help. Not just for me, but the other players as well, the whole team
“It’s good to have a manager that not just talks to me, but makes the whole team feel really welcome, makes everyone feel they are all one, whether you are starting or not.”