Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov has been one of the players used most by Enzo Maresca so far

Three months into Manchester City under Enzo Maresca and the manager has leaned on some players more than others. While Gianluigi Donnarumma has played more minutes than anybody else, the five outfield players with the most minutes are interesting.

Ruben Dias leads the way followed by his vice-captain Erling Haaland, with both having clearly defined roles in the team. Next comes Elliot Anderson, who has been essential in the midfield, and Marc Guehi is still up there despite some early substitutions recently.

Coming in after Guehi, having recently leapfrogged Josko Gvardiol, is Uzbek defender Abdukodir Khusanov. Despite it not feeling like his place in the team is nailed, the 22-year-old has been turned to repeatedly by Maresca across the backline.

That speaks to his versatility, and one of the reasons the club opted not to sign a right-back in the summer was because they felt that Khusanov could deputise for Matheus Nunes. Given the way Maresca likes to build up with three centre-backs, Khusanov could be even more valuable at right-back.

What the start of the season has shown though is that as good as Khusanov is to be involved so often, his best performances have been in the middle. A number of times this season already, he has looked like a fish out of water going forward from right-back and being trusted with the ball in the opposition third; against Forest on Saturday, he looked far more comfortable when he was moved inside.

Where it felt like Maresca started with the golden touch for substitutions, in recent matches they have more looked like belated corrections to the lineup. There have been 11 changes at half-time alone, and even if some of those have been enforced by injury it hasn't helped City feel any more solid in defence with new partnerships thrown together.

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Guehi and Dias have been the preferred pick in the middle so far, but of their last four starts together one of them has been taken off at half-time in three of them. At this point, Khusanov is looking like a more reliable option going forward.

He may be needed at right-back if Nunes cannot stay clear of injury, but it is clear from the opening months of the season where Khusanov offers most to the team. Providing he can shake off the knock he picked up at Forest, the youngster deserves his opportunities to come in the middle and that should benefit City the most.