Benjamin Mendy’s Manchester City return a big boost, says Oleksandr Zinchenko

Oleksandr Zinchenko states Benjamin Mendy’s return to full fitness before Manchester City’s Champions League Group C opener away to Shakhtar Donetsk is”so important” for the squad.
The 25-year-old underwent surgery during the summer and was sidelined with a knee injury since May, seeing him overlook City’s pre-season tour of Asia.
Mendy has endured various setbacks because his arrival in the Etihad Stadium in 2017, after his # 50m move, with all the protector overlooking a total of 85 games for the club.
“I’m so happy he is back, he dropped so much time and everyone saw how much he worked on his recovery,” fellow left-back Zinchenko told City’s website.
“He is so important playing for us. It is a very long time and [there are] plenty of competitions so we want a great deal of players. I am happy for him.”
In which he had been a youth player from 2010-2014, for City’s first Champions League group game of the season, zinchenko yields to Shakhtar.
As well as Mendy, Scott Carson, Angelino and Joao Cancelo have all been included in the squad for Wednesday’s struggle, while Phil Foden has been omitted because of a lack of fitness .
Together with Aymeric Laporte and John Stones suffering injuries at the start of the season the Frenchman comes in as wanted defensive cover.
“We have to focus on our own game and of course a priority would be that the Champions League where we need to win.
“But it is our goal and desire to perform well in most contests we participate in.
“We respect Shakhtar and we would like to just go out there and show our very best game.
“Ukraine is the very best nation in the world! It’s [the group ] third time so that they understand the city of Kharkiv well and a few are already looking to buy apartments!”

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