Man City greats hail Brazil midfielder Fernandinho.

Man City ace Fernandinho. [GETTY]

Manchester City greats Richard Dunne and Paul Dickov heap praise on the timely return of midfield marshal Fernandinho from injury.

The City captain's return to action has handed Pep Guardiola's side a major boost, and Dunne labelled the Brazilian as ‘the ultimate defensive midfielder of our era’.

The versatile player was a second-half substitute in City's Champions League victory over Olympiakos at the Karaiskaki Stadium on Wednesday evening, following his absence for a month with a hamstring problem.

“He’s the ultimate defensive midfielder in this era," former City captain Dunne said as mancity.com reported.

“Having him as the organiser is so, so valuable. Even when he plays centre-half, he’s missed in midfield!

“He does it brilliantly well and doesn’t look out of place, but you can tell he’s not in the midfield.”

Ex-Cityzens striker Dickov also lauded the 35-year-old, saying he is as an ‘unsung hero’ who 'has been sorely missed'.

“Fernandinho has been sorely missed when he’s out,” Dickov said.

“He didn’t get the credit that he deserved initially, but he’s the unsung hero of the team really.

“He breaks things up and lets the De Bruynes and Sterlings do what they do

“The last four or five years he’s sat in deep midfield and been one of the best midfielders in the world.”

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