Pep Guardiola lays down a challenge to both Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku in their battle to claim Man City’s left-wing spot – insisting ‘who performs better’ will start

• Pep Guardiola has challenged Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku to battle it out
• Both players are suited to the left-wing position but there’s only room for one
• Mail Sport’s new WhatsApp Channel: Get the breaking news and exclusives here

Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku have been challenged by Pep Guardiola to out-do each other in the fight for the left-wing berth at Manchester City.

Grealish, nearly ever-present during City’s march to last season’s Treble, returned from injury this week but has watched Doku flourish in his absence.

The 21-year-old offers something different from wide areas, a more direct attacker and boasts an unpredictability that Guardiola felt the team had been missing.

Debate has raged online over whether Doku deserves to keep his place in the starting XI ahead of Saturday’s trip to Wolves.

‘Jeremy can play on the right as well,’ Guardiola said. ‘Who’s going to play more? It’s who performs better. It’s simple. Phil (Foden) can play on the left too. The guy who performs well and feels better will have more chance to play.’

Jeremy Doku has been starting in the left-wing position for Man City since his summer arrival

Pep Guardiola has challenged his two wingers to earn their spot in his starting line-up

City are looking to record seven consecutive victories on the hunt for a fourth title on the trot but go to Molineux without Rodri, John Stones, Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva.

Guardiola admitted that Rodri is ‘difficult to replace’, with Mateo Kovacic, ex-Wolves man Matheus Nunes and Kalvin Phillips all vying for places.

‘It is what it is,’ the City boss added. ‘You have to find solutions. We’re not here to complain. The players want to come back. We have to recover and be ready.

‘Kalvin has a chance like the other ones. He’s part of the group, made incredible contributions. I don’t have any complaints. Sometimes we’re looking for specifics for certain type of skills.

‘Maybe he struggles a bit more when it’s about details. It was a tough game against Newcastle, he helped us a lot against Nottingham Forest.’

Jack Grealish has seen his starting role in Man City’s team challenged by the summer signing

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