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Manchester City have struggled defensively this season with some of their frailties from last year still on show.
Manchester City's stuttering start to the season has raised more questions than answers around the Etihad.
Successive defeats to Tottenham and Brighton have punctured the August optimism that flowed after a thumping 4-0 opening day win at Wolves.
City are in the bottom half of the Premier League table and face a crunch week, with games against Manchester United and Arsenal next up in the top flight and a Champions League tie with Napoli sandwiched in between.
Pep Guardiola is facing questions over whether his side can contribute enough goals to support Erling Haaland, while some of City's defensive frailties that were evident last term are still hampering the Blues this season.
Injuries have not helped at the back with Josko Gvardiol yet to feature and Rayan Ait-Nouri forced off early in the defeat to Tottenham.
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But there remain concerns at right back with neither Rico Lewis or Mathues Nunes doing enough to nail down that spot, while a lack of pace has also been exposed.
With a new goalkeeper in Gianluigi Donnarumma now set to become first choice, with Ederson having departed for Fenerbahce, the City defence will have to adjust to a new starting stopper who brings a different skillset to the Brazilian.
Donnarumma is unlikely to operate as far out of his goal as Ederson was, while his distribution is also not at the level of the 32-year-old's. It might see City adjust their shape, while it could also impact the selection thinking given the right back issues and the relative lack of pace in the middle.
Speaking on the Talking City Podcast, MEN writer Alex James floated two potential solutions.
"I'd be tempted to play Stones at right back, certainly against Arsenal," he said. "Because he can fill into midfield, as we've seen him do from that position before.
"He's probably a better one-on-one defender than Nunes and Lewis, and he gives you a bit more physicality and presence at set pieces, which Arsenal try and exploit.
"And I don't know if Donnarumma being in goal changes things and we might see a bit more of Khusanov.
"It would be a big thing to throw Khusanov in week in, week out, but he's got pace. If City are going to carry on playing a high line, and Donnaruma is gonna be five yards further back than Ederson was and maybe less adept at doing what Ederson did in those scenarios, might you need a bit of pace in that back four?"
Guardiola spoke after the defeat to Brighton about Khusanov's speed, saying: "Against fast, fast players - with Khusa he can handle it because he's so fast."
Pace alone won't get you into this City side, but it would certainly help.
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