Pep Guardiola's delayed reaction to new Man City fan favourite offers clear hint on future

Where has this Matheus Nunes been for 13 months?

The phrase 'like a new signing' is often overused in football, and mostly reserved for returning players from injury. But Nunes fits the brief after enduring a stop-start debut season at Manchester City.

For some players, they just need a year to get to grips with Pep Guardiola's system and a break in the team. Nunes has the latter and the evidence suggests he might have achieved the former.

Nunes only started 16 games last season and recorded just five assists in 31 appearances. In the last four days, he has a goal and three assists to catapult himself joint-top of the assist charts in the space of just two games.

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Selected on the left against Southampton for back-to-back starts - only the second time he has managed that in his City career - Nunes was a constant threat and was instantly involved when he crossed for Haaland to score just four minutes in.

And after a series of other crosses and a shot that flashed wide, he took another step forward in his City career. After winning a corner, he was serenaded by the City fans who chanted his name as he took the set piece. There can't have been many times he has heard that from the stands in a frustrating 13 months but his last three outings have been more like the player they thought they signed from Wolves. As ever at City, if someone puts the effort in and plays for the shirt, they will get support,

He is creating chances, putting crosses in, playing with confidence and reaping the rewards. A Carabao Cup trip to Tottenham and Premier League clash at Bournemouth could extend his personal-best starting run in the next week, before a return to Sporting that he would love to be a part of. That is his next goal to aim for.

When he was replaced late on, Guardiola was occupied with a coach. Nunes walked back to his seat, only to be beckoned back by the manager for a pat on the back. The standing ovation from the stands was well deserved.

It has taken a while, but Nunes has truly taken a significant step forward in his City career and it couldn't have come at a better time for Guardiola.