Wilfried Bony Has Much to Prove as Kelechi Iheanacho Threat Looms Large

There’s a growing feeling that Wilfried Bony is facing a crucial crossroads in his Manchester City career.

The striker, signed from Swansea City for £25 million last January, is yet to show his best form for the club, and he was dropped for Tuesday’s Champions League game with Borussia Monchengladbach after a dreadful display at Stoke City last weekend.

He came off the bench against the German side and impressed, scoring one and assisting another as the Blues topped Group D. It was a memorable night for the club, and Bony played a significant part.

Manuel Pellegrini will be hoping it is the catalyst for better form. The City boss admitted on Friday the Ivorian had been performing below his best but said he was pleased with his contribution against Gladbach.

Jon Super/Associated Press

“I’m very pleased because he knows maybe that he was not playing well,” he told reporters. “But we must remember he also came from a long injury, first with malaria and after that he had to play again after he had recovered for two or three days after a muscle injury against Aston Villa.

“He didn’t do it against Stoke, but he did a very good performance against Borussia. I am very happy for him and for the team.”

Indeed, Bony’s time at City has often been hindered by issues beyond his control. His Africa Cup of Nations involvement delayed his introduction to the side. Niggling injuries held him back upon his return. A formation switch that saw City play with just one upfront saw his playing time decrease further.

But now, with Sergio Aguero having only played three times in City’s last 13 due to injury, the former Vitesse Arnhem man has had an extended run, but it hasn’t led to more assured form. He often appears over-eager, snatching at chances rather than taking them with confidence—certainly not the Bony who topped Premier League scoring charts in the calendar year of 2014. 

Jon Super/Associated Press

Eight goals in 28 appearances since joining the club tells its own story, but Pellegrini still believes he can offer City a spark. 

“I think he can be an impact in the starting 11 or on the bench,” Pellegrini said. “The mentality of the player is very important when they don’t start a game and when they go in and try to do their best and we always win or lose the game with 14 players, not just 11.”

Perhaps an even bigger problem for Bony is the emergence of Kelechi Iheanacho, a 19-year-old Nigerian striker with three goals already this season, despite starting just two games. The teenager has star quality, and the City fans want to see more of him.

With Pellegrini so often preferring experience, Bony is widely expected to start against Swansea on Saturday. 

“We will see tomorrow the starting 11,” Pellegrini added. “We don’t have too many players so of course Bony is in the squad list and we will see which is the best starting 11.”

With Aguero nearing a return—he could be fit to play some part in the trip to Arsenal next weekend—Bony will be desperate to start against his former club and prove to Pellegrini and the City supporters he has what it takes to play for a club with huge ambition.

It’s been a substantial step up for him since his move from the Liberty Stadium, and at times, it has been debatable whether or not he has what it takes to play for a club like City.

His touch veers from sublime to awful, and his finishing is similarly erratic, but there have been signs, albeit fleeting ones, of a player capable of offering City some back-to-goal quality—a different option to anything else they have in the squad.

Time is of the essence, though. The outlay to bring him to the Etihad Stadium was significant. City want a proper return on their investment, and, so far, it's difficult to argue they've had anything near what they expected. 

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2015/16 season. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard_.