Nathan Ake has been Manchester City's most improved player by some distance this season and it couldn't have come at a more perfect time.
It's often discussed how forwards need at least a year to reach their full potential after signing for City due to Pep Guardiola's unique and complex methods and maybe it can apply to defenders as well. Playing full-back is probably the most difficult position in the side, after all.
Many have questioned Ake's qualities in the two years since his signing from Bournemouth and wondered why City had spent so much money on a player who was effectively a versatile backup. But those critics have been left eating their words this season.
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Not only was he the first-choice centre-back for the first half of the season but he has now moved to left-back or in the space between the two positions in a back three and is doing even better. So much so that City now miss him when he isn't on the pitch, which Guardiola admitted himself before ironically benching him for the next game.
Regardless of where he's positioned, he is now one of the first names on the teamsheet in the biggest games because he has repeatedly kept the top sides' best players quiet. He's simply excellent at winning back the ball.
He won duel after duel against Mohamed Salah and has nullified the threat of Chelsea's Hakim Ziyech, Tottenham speedster Dejan Kulusevski and Arsenal's star man Bukayo Saka in three crucial victories. Not to mention the winning goal he claimed against the Gunners in the FA Cup.
The Dutchman's fine form has continued for his country where he scored twice in the victory over Gibraltar this week and was involved in 16(!) created chances. It may only have been against a minnow but it just shows the confidence he is playing with and how much he has developed his game under Guardiola's stewardship.
It's a good job too as left-back has once again become an issue for City this season. For years the Blues have had a blindspot there and have turned to many stopgap and makeshift solutions. Ake, Fabian Delph, Aleks Zinchenko, Aymeric Laporte, Joao Cancelo, Rico Lewis, Danilo, Sergio Gomez and even Bernardo Silva have all played there through the years,
It seemed the problem was finally solved with Cancelo's sublime spell at left-back but his frustrations over a lack of playing time boiled over in January and he departed for Bayern Munich on loan.
Given Zinchenko was sold in the summer and City slipped up in not replacing him properly, it left them perilously low on options. Spanish youngster Gomez is not ready and it's no surprise since he was originally earmarked to head back out on loan. Bernardo applied himself well but his talents are wasted there and Lewis is still too young to rely on.
If it wasn't for Ake, City could well be in serious trouble and though Erling Haaland's goals will claim most of the headlines, he will have had a huge hand in any claimed silverware come May.
Ironically enough, his form has been so great operating on the left that it may encourage City to once again put off signing a dedicated left-back in the summer. Especially as Cancelo could return after all. It would be a boost to not have to focus on another position given midfield has to be the priority.
City are at risk of losing Ilkay Gundogan who is yet to extend his contract and Bernardo as he's wanted to return to mainland Europe for years. Just one of them leaving would be a massive blow, let alone both, and take serious replacing.
But even if they stay, fresh blood is still needed given Gundogan is 32 and Kevin De Bruyne will be 31 when the next season starts. A big signing is needed and they don't get much bigger than Jude Bellingham.
But it will be a fierce battle for the teenage prodigy given all of Europe will be interested and it's a deal that could cost up to £150million. If City can focus all their time and budget solely on Bellingham then the chances of snagging him will be higher.
So Ake isn't only doing the club a favour on the pitch but off it as well.
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