Aymeric Laporte has reserved special praise for his Manchester City teammate, Riyad Mahrez, whose incredible individual campaign has gone relatively under the radar.
Despite not being a guaranteed starter for the side, with Riyad Mahrez emerging as one of Manchester City's standout players so far this season, the club are certainly happy to see him return after the Africa Cup of Nations.
With 15 goals and six assists in 26 appearances in all competitions this season, the Algerian international is running an incredibly productive campaign on the personal front, backing up the silverware challenge at the Etihad Stadium.
While the 30-year-old's stupendous contribution is not widely recognized, perhaps he should be recognized by fans and pundits alike, with his Manchester City teammates lauding his return in front of the goal.
Aymeric Laporte gave Riyad Mahrez the credit he deserves, according to the official club website, ahead of Manchester City's return to Premier League action against Brentford after the winter break.
“Riyad (Mahrej) plays very well, he is unbelievable. His control all the time when the long ball comes, the commitment he shows in the game is just unbelievable", expressed Aymeric Laporte.
The Spanish international also said he expects his Manchester City teammates to reach greater heights as the season progresses, and the Champions League returns in the coming weeks.
“Right now, he (Riyad Mahrez) is at his best, and deserves more. I am sure he will score as many goals as he is working for it, and he has the talent too”, concluded Laporte.
The words of the former Athletic Bilbao defender certainly do justice to the stellar performance of Riyad Mahrez this campaign, who has grabbed his chances in the starting XI with both hands for most of the occasions.
The former Africa Cup of Nations winner also stepped up to assist against Fulham, from his crucial equalizer from 12 yards against Arsenal, to his superb brace and a trailing City lead in the next round of the FA Cup.
With the end of the season trading, Riyad Mahrez is set to become a key player as he has a proven track record of being a man for big opportunities.