Oleksandr Zinchenko says Benjamin Mendy’s return to full fitness before Manchester City’s Champions League Group C opener away to Shakhtar Donetsk is”so important” for its group.
The 25-year-old underwent surgery over the summer and was sidelined with a knee injury since May, visiting him miss City’s pre-season tour of Asia.
Mendy has endured various setbacks since his arrival at the Etihad Stadium in 2017, after his # 50m move a couple of decades back, with the defender missing a total of 85 games for the team.
“I’m so happy he’s back, he lost so much time and everyone noticed how much he labored on his comeback,” fellow left-back Zinchenko told City’s website.
“He is so significant playing for us. It’s a long time and [there are] plenty of contests so we need a great deal of players. I’m happy for him.”
Zinchenko yields to Shakhtar, at which he had been a youth player from 2010-2014, for City’s first Champions League group match of the year.
Also as Mendy, Scott Carson, Angelino and Joao Cancelo have all been included in the squad for Wednesday’s conflict, while Phil Foden was omitted due to a lack of fitness center.
With Aymeric Laporte and John Stones suffering injuries at the start of the season the Frenchman comes in as needed defensive cover.
“We have to concentrate on our own game and obviously a priority is the Champions League in which we need to win.
“But it’s our goal and desire to perform well in most contests we participate in.
“We respect Shakhtar and we would like to go out there and show our very best game.
“Ukraine is the very best country in the world! It’s [the group’s ] third time so they know the city of Kharkiv very well and some are looking to purchase flats!”
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