Manchester City are finally getting to see Jack Grealish at his swashbuckling best and Pep Guardiola must be mightily pleased with his £100million man right now.
It has been 18 months since the floppy-haired playmaker swapped his beloved hometown Aston Villa for the Etihad Stadium and with last season's Premier League medal front and centre on his mantelpiece it is Grealish - along with Erling Haaland - that continues to lead the side this term.
Given his early struggles, that might have been an unthinkable scenario this time a year ago, but the popular England international buckled down, got used to Pep Guardiola - and his demands - and is ultimately reaping the benefits with increased game-time and, in turn, output.
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That all but one of his direct contributions for City in the Premier League this campaign have come after the World Cup is a testament to his form and growing importance to this star-studded squad. But while robot-like teammate Haaland continues to record mind-blowing numbers and think nothing about it, that upturn being enjoyed by Grealish comes armed with a rare sense of humility and self-deprecation.
"When I came here, I will be honest with you, it was so much more difficult than I thought," declared Grealish after he was summoned from the bench to provide a match-winning assist against Chelsea at their Stamford Bridge stadium in January. "In my head, I was thinking that going to the team that sits at the top of the league I will be getting so many goals, but obviously it isn't the case.
"I've said it a few times, but it's so much different to what I was used to. It's so much more difficult."
Different and difficult, perhaps, but Grealish has risen to his own challenge and - say it quietly - he might even be undroppable at City right now. Guardiola has form for springing a selection surprise, of course, but omitting Grealish from here on in this season would not be justified on performance alone.
Although it has taken some time, City are starting to get a proper return on their then-British record outlay as they ponder over transfer plans for the summer. Guardiola and key figures behind the scenes, though, do have one or two variables to contend with first and foremost.
Having prioritised Grealish and Haaland in back-to-back summers, it is not too easy to outline where the main work will be done in the boardroom, although any suggestion Jude Bellingham will be available will, in turn, be met with a disorderly queue involving City and Europe's heavyweights.
Before launching that would-be pursuit, Guardiola and those responsible for squad-building will need to map out plans for Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva and anyone else who might be considering a new start. Based on that, there could be further incomings and Guardiola will have his scouts out.
One player worth considering is James Maddison - who continues to fly the flag for struggling Leicester - and often crosses paths with Grealish in social circles and more recently on international duty. It was last month he finally made his full England debut to give Grealish and would-be suitors extra to think about.
A shining light amid current doom and gloom for his club, Maddison was a breath of fresh air when he pulled on the Three Lions shirt against Ukraine. He is entering the final year of his deal while nine goals and six assists in 22 games for a relegation-threatened side is not to be sniffed at.
Ignoring the rather simplistic comparisons to Grealish based on their, seemingly, carefree style, Maddison has shown he has the ability to play at the very top level, and would not even make a dent in the £100million City had to splash out on their record signing. Grealish has shown Maddison and Guardiola the way, as City eye-up another attacking "project" to keep things fresh amid squad uncertainties.
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