Player Focus: 'Manager's Dream' Milner Proving his Worth to Manchester City

Although Robin van Persie's last-gasp leveller against Chelsea this weekend may have ensured that the title race will roll on for some time yet, the task ahead for Manchester City became an unenviable one after defeat at West Ham.

The real story of the game itself was undoubtedly just how far the Hammers have come this season but on the opposite side of the coin City's start to the campaign has been a very poor one in general, despite sitting third. They've failed to win any of their Champions League games and, if you include the defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield, the current squad have won just 6 of their opening 14 matches.

It was a quiet summer in terms of arrivals at the Etihad, with the consensus held that buying for the sake of buying would have been nonsensical after securing a second Premier League title in three years. One player that many thought would be surplus to requirements at the club and heading for the exit door was James Milner.

In truth the England international was probably seen as a disposable asset to Manuel Pellegrini. The 28-year-old felt he had a point to prove, however, and while he's had his critics in recent years Milner has never thought of himself as a small fish amongst an ocean of stars. The midfielder was eager to evidence the fact that he deserved a place in the manager’s thinking and has started the current campaign doing just that.

Reliable. Tireless. Committed. Versatile. Industrious. Milner is constantly branded with such compliments but there's a sense that at times they've been a little back-handed. While all five are completely true they are also very similar and therein lays an unwarranted concern. His critics may say that Milner is limited, despite those traits. He isn’t.

There was a growing feeling that Pellegrini had the same concern. Milner started just 12 league games last season, making 19 appearances as a sub with his rating from WhoScored.com suffering dramatically, ranking worst of all City players to have started more than once (6.58). Fast forward just a matter of months, however, and that's all changed.

Afforded more playing time due to injury to Samir Nasri, the midfielder has garnered the second best league rating at the club from WhoScored (7.42), only behind Agüero. It was a surprise then, that Milner was omitted from the line-up against West Ham at the weekend, and perhaps a mistake on Pellegrini's part.

Across all competitions, again including the Community Shield, City have started 7 games with the former Villa-man and 7 without him. The Premier League champions are unbeaten in the matches that Milner has started this season but have lost 4 and won just 2 of the games he has not. His work rate sets a precedent to the whole team and while he may not be one of the bigger names at the club he is one of the key motivators within a cosmopolitan squad.

A key member of the comparative 'old guard', Milner has been more than just a good guy to have around the dressing room this season. He's been a star performer when he has started, standing out to earn the man of the match award from WhoScored in City's title match-up with Chelsea.

The Englishman has been a real creative force for the side and while his modest assist tally of 2 in the league thus far may seem unremarkable, of all players to have started more than 5 league games only Angel Di Maria has set up a chance for a teammate more often (every 24.9 minutes). When just looking at the City squad only Agüero and Navas have completed a dribble more often (every 52.7 minutes), while only Fernandinho is producing a tackle more often (every 22.6 minutes).

It's fair to say that Milner could have walked away from the club this summer and he'd have had no shortage of suitors. While some would suggest that a player seemingly reluctant to leave a team where he is unlikely to receive much playing time but plenty of money for a place on the bench is simply sitting on his pay cheque, you never get that impression with Milner.

While absences may have played a part in Milner's resurgence this season the quality of his performances have highlighted his importance to the side. Gary Neville recently claimed - and isn't the first person to have done so - that James Milner is "a manager's dream". That might not have proved apparent to Pellegrini straight away but without him in the starting XI it's been somewhat of a nightmare start for Manchester City.

How impressed have you been with Milner this season and should he be a regular starter for City? Let us know in the comments below