Rico Lewis

Lewis begins in a conventional full back position out of possession but steps inside once City settle into their build up, occupying a pocket of central midfield a traditional defender would never be asked to fill. In that space he needs the passing range and composure of a genuine midfielder, receiving the ball under pressure from two or three opponents and still keeping the move progressing. His positional intelligence lets him read exactly when to tuck in and when defensive duty requires staying wide.

The risk with a role this unusual is defensive transition, since a full back drifted into central midfield cannot also defend the width of the pitch if possession is lost immediately after. That responsibility shifts onto a covering centre back or a tracking winger. Watch how the team copes right after he has pushed infield, since that is when the system is most exposed.