Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola lavished praise on Christopher Nkunku this week.
The RB Leipzig forward, who is signing for Chelsea in the summer, is not available to face off against City in the Champions League.
Guardiola is keenly aware of the threat that would have been posed by the French forward, who missed the World Cup with injury this winter.
Guardiola told reporters yesterday: [Is Nkunku world class?] Absolutely. Hopefully, he can come back from a tough injury. It was a pity that he lost the World Cup.
We saw from him last season at home, yeah top class player. Hopefully he come back. Unfortunately he can not be there hopefully he comeback in Manchester.
Always I like to play [against] the best players in the top sides. What I hear he is really close to coming back."