Zabaleta, who has been one of City's most consistent players this season, reasserted his value with a late winner in Saturday's 1-0 win over Stoke in the FA Cup, prompting praise from Platt.

 

Platt said: "When you have got players of the ilk we have got - the Yayas, Silvas, Agueros, Tevezes - they all work hard and do what they have to do, but you need to sprinkle into that mix those players that often go under the radar.

 

"What is pleasing is that he scores a goal in a cup match and he can get some headlines, but he won't be bothered about that.

 

"He isn't bothered about headlines. Those kind of players aren't.

 

"It's not what they play for. He is an eight out of 10 man every week. For professionals he is just a top man really."

 

Platt added that Zabaleta's latest goal, his third of the campaign, was no fluke.

 

He said: "We get players into advanced areas. It is not by luck Zaba gets into those positions.

 

"The way we play we get a lot of players forward. Zaba has been in those positions many times and he tucked it away nicely."