Unfortunately for Manchester City, they will be without Antoine Semenyo for eight weeks. The powerful winger suffered a knee injury during Manchester City's 3-2 win over Ipswich Town at the Etihad Stadium last Saturday. It is a blow for Enzo Maresca's side to lose the Ghana international. Semenyo is an important component of Manchester City's attack. The silver lining to Semenyo's injury is that it does give other players an opportunity to step up in his absence. One player who could now gain more opportunities to play is Brazilian winger Allan. The Brazilian winger has been given time to adjust to life at City but he does loom as a wildcard option for Enzo Maresca to consider in Semenyo's absence.
So far, Allan has only made two appearances for Manchester City this season. He grabbed a goal and an assist in Manchester City's 5-0 win over Norwich City in the third-round of the Carabao Cup. Also, Allan came off the bench in the latter stages of Manchester City's recent 3-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield. Enzo Maresca has taken a patient approach with Allan. The Brazilian winger arrived at City from Palmeiras in the summer and has been afforded time to adjust to life in a new country and at a new club.
However, Semenyo's injury may have presented Allan with an opportunity. It wouldn't be expected that Allan will make the jump from being on the periphery of Enzo Maresca's squad to starting on the right wing. But he could begin to play more often and offer an attacking threat for Manchester City. That could well be the silver lining in Semenyo's injury, that it could allow Allan an opportunity to make his mark for Enzo Maresca's side.
Allan does loom as an attacking wildcard for Manchester City. He is a hard-working winger both in and out of possession. We briefly saw when he started against Norwich City that he is a direct winger who thrives in one-on-one situations. Allan isn't as powerful as Antoine Semenyo nor does he have Semenyo's eye for goal. But he is an unknown quantity of sorts given there is only a small sample size of his at City to view and perhaps that could work in his and Manchester City's favour.
Everything about Allan's game screams an Enzo Maresca type of winger. He has just been given time to adjust to his new surroundings as City have taken a patient approach with him. But Antoine Semenyo's injury may have changed the equation so perhaps Allan may be about to be unleashed.
