Pairing David Silva and Sergio Aguero Will Be Key to Manchester City Title Bid

Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero has hinted he is well on the road to recovery after a message from his official Twitter account declared he was back in light training:

"

I wanted you to know I've already started field work. Slowly but surely I'll be back at the right moment. Thanks for the wishes!

— Sergio Kun Aguero (@aguerosergiokun) January 5, 2015"

It’s a huge boost to a City side who face the task of trying to move ahead of Chelsea in the Premier League as quickly as possible, with the two sides set to meet at Stamford Bridge at the end of the month.

Manuel Pellegrini hinted after City’s win over Crystal Palace in December that Aguero could be back for City’s home match with Arsenal on January 18, saying, "We will see. [Edin] Dzeko and Kun, I am sure they will not be fit for Boxing Day, I think in the first half of January," and the striker’s tweet appears to add credence to the idea.

However, even if he fails to prove his full fitness in time to face the Gunners, it now seems increasingly likely he will be available to line up against Chelsea on January 31.

Jon Super/Associated Press

The west Londoners, along with City, appear likely to remain front-runners for the title throughout the season, with this month’s match between the two sides seen as a key fixture in determining the destination of the Premier League trophy.

Getting Aguero back to full fitness is vital for City, but partnering him with David Silva, an option that has seldom been available to Pellegrini this season, is also a must.

Silva has often played on the left for City, but last March—when Aguero was in the midst of injury problems and Alvaro Negredo, now at Valencia, was suffering from a loss of form—Pellegrini looked for alternatives.

Silva moved into the No. 10 role and flourished, and in recent weeks, with City missing all three of their strikers due to injury, the Spaniard has again found himself in a central role.

When asked in September where he prefers to play, Silva said, "I feel comfortable [in the No. 10 role]. I also play there for the national team. It's no secret that I always feel more comfortable playing in that position. It's up to the manager where I play."

There’s little doubt that City’s orchestrator-in-chief can maximise his talent from that position and that City benefit when he plays there. The thought of Aguero and Silva in close proximity on a regular basis is both tantalising and worrying for their rivals.

This season, Silva and Aguero have started together only five times in the league, and the last time they were both available was for the game away at West Ham in October. But in their fleeting moments together, it was clear they represent City’s most potent attacking pair.

Jon Super/Associated Press

In fact, it isn't an exaggeration to say City possess the best out-and-out striker and the best playmaker in the Premier League.

And with James Milner, Samir Nasri and Jesus Navas all in good form and vying for places on the wings, City have some outstanding attacking options when everyone is fit.

They have missed Aguero’s finishing in recent weeks, and his return will instantly give the side a lift, but it’s also long overdue that he and Silva play together regularly. If City find themselves in a situation in which both stay fit for the majority of the season and Pellegrini pairs them together, they would surely be favourites to retain the league title.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2014-15 season. All quotes are obtained first-hand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.