I’ve always liked Marc Albrighton.
I admire his crafty right foot, the way he compensates for a lack of pace with the ability to hit a sixpence with a crossed ball.
I like him so much, I’d planned to keep him sitting next to me on my virtual bench; sharing the gum, purring in appreciation while David Silva weaves his magic.
In truth, while I dished out the required 5.1 in funds, I wasn’t really planning on relying on Albrighton for much more than making my squad appear, at least on paper, like it had some depth.
Today, this humble winger has the opportunity to prove himself. To rise, George Boyd-like, from the stiffs and deliver.
He’s already fulfilled one important role: he’s cushioned the initial blow of David Silva’s absence. I knew, when I recklessly tossed away my transfer 24 hours into the international break that I was taking a risk. Albrighton was my safety net: the Foxes schemer was the option I could bring into my XI to replace any injury setback. I wasn’t quite anticipating that the setback in question would come so late or be Silva-shaped.
Just as I began to get comfortable accepting the Spaniard as a true heavy-hitter, his fragility comes to the fore. Silva’s ankles are a known issue and a problematic weak spot for a balletic midfield architect who relies on his agility and balance to ferret between the lines.
Should we start to classify Silva’s ankles alongside “Costa’s hamstrings” and “Sturridge’s arms, legs, and upper and lower torso”?
Pellegrini also worries me.
He has world-class reserves with Kevin de Bruyne set for a bow and, with Champions League ambitions kicking-in, the Chilean may feel he doesn’t have to take risks. Why patch up Silva when he has the likes of De Bruyne and Samir Nasri ready to deputise?
Silva has already gone on record to lament his weakness. While Pellegrini is still reliant on his wizardry, I just wonder if a significant factor in De Bruyne’s arrival was to give the City boss the opportunity to preserve his prize Spaniard.
Pellegrini has De Bruyne. I have Albrighton.
That might seem unfair, but I’ve got faith in my Silva lining.
