Raheem Sterling displays his improved consistency by bagging the opener in City’s win at Bournemouth. The Gabriel Jesus bandwagon comes to a halt prior to blank Gameweek 26 as he limps off early with a foot injury.Meanwhile, Junior Stanislas’ tumble down the Bournemouth pecking order continues as he’s benched for the second successive Gameweek. Here’s the Stock Check following Monday’s Gameweek 26 finale…
On the Rise
Raheem Sterling
Having started the last ten Gameweeks, Sterling has now returned two goals and eight assists over that spell; he could have had a ninth had substitute Sergio Aguero managed to divert his initial touch to the winger’s cross on target.
That outstanding run of form has unfortunately coincided with the emergence of Gabriel Jesus and the doubts surrounding City’s missing fixtures.
Once we’re beyond Gameweek 28, Sterling will surely enjoy greater interest having delivered so consistently. However, it should be noted that City face Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea in their three matches to follow the potential Gameweek 28 blank.
Leroy Sane
On the opposite flank, Sane also sparkled against the Cherries.
He’s now started the last four Gameweeks and has delivered a goal and two assists in that spell – like Sterling, he was unfortunate not to find further profit from Monday’s encounter having struck the bar.
However, priced at 7.5 to Sterling 7.8, it’s unlikely that he will enter into the equation as more than a differential.
In Decline
Gabriel Jesus
Missing Gameweek 26 and, in all probability, also set to sit out Gameweek 28 should City progress to the FA Cup Quarter Finals, Jesus picked up a foot injury at the Vitality Stadium to compound matters.
Handed his third successive start by Pep Guardiola, the young Brazilian suffered an apparent foot injury challenging for a cross and, despite his best efforts, was forced to limp off after just 15 minutes.
Guardiola confirmed post-match that Jesus would be assessed, but offered little more than that by way of a prognosis.
Brought in by more than 210,00 ahead of Monday’s outing, his owners will at least have the comfort that they were forced to go into the next Gameweek benching or selling the striker.
The will now wait on the verdict from City, in the hope that it puts no doubt over Jesus’ starting role for the Gameweek 27 fixture away at Sunderland.
Opportunity may just knock for Sergio Aguero.
Junior Stanislas
Benched at Goodison Park in Gameweek 24, the winger suffered the same fate in Monday’s encounter as Eddie Howe opted to hand Jordan Ibe a first start in three months.
It was felt that Stanislas missed out at Everton due to a shift in formation but, on the evidence of Monday’s teamsheet, he now faces a battle to reinstate himself in the starting XI – an unwelcome development for his 133,000 owners who were looking to him to help cover the Gameweek 28 blanks.
The fact that Marc Pugh was introduced as Ibe’s replacement with 15 minutes to go offers further indication of Stanislas’ rank in the current pecking order.
