Peter Crouch believes Joao Cancelo is just as important to Manchester City as Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne.
Haaland has made a flying start to life at the Etihad Stadium, scoring 15 Premier League goals in just nine matches, while De Bruyne has registered nine assists in the top flight this season.
The pair have already established a lethal partnership, and are widely recognised as City’s standout players, but Crouch thinks Cancelo plays an equally crucial role in Pep Guardiola’s side.
‘I’d put him as important as De Bruyne or Haaland. He has that big an effect on the game,’ Crouch told BT Sport on Tuesday.
Cancelo has predominantly played at left-back this term, but has also switched to the right to fill in for the injured Kyle Walker at times.
Crouch’s fellow pundit Owen Hargreaves claimed the Portuguese defender’s versatility gives him the edge over other full-backs such as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James.
‘He probably doesn’t get the credit that he deserves. This guy can play right-back, he can play left-back and you can argue that he’s one of the best in the world in both positions,’ Hargreaves said.
‘He’s the only one you could say about that. Trent couldn’t play left-back, Reece couldn’t play left-back. He plays like a No 10, but he’s a full-back.
Trying to stop Haaland and De Bruyne has become a headache for opposition managers in the opening weeks of the season.
Hargreaves and Joleon Lescott now feel teams are having to figure out how to keep Cancelo quiet as well due to his threat from out wide.
‘I think if he’s English, he’s getting more recognition, we’re going to highlight it more,’ Lescott added.
‘I think teams are now having to select their opposite winger to combat him. Similar to the way it was with Ashley Cole.
‘I had to do that in the Champions League final. You had to recognise that Ash was a threat. You have to have a game plan for him (Cancelo), he’s that good,’ Hargreaves agreed.