If he lacks confidence, why does he lack confidence?
The price tag? Challenging for trophies? Playing with world-class players? Hostility from opposition fans? All things he's on record as saying he embraces, even enjoys.
The rest of the squad seem to adore him, and from what he's said Pep and the coaches have been taking time to put an arm around him and praise all the stuff he's doing right.
He's playing pretty regularly for us and still getting selected for England, seems likely to go to the World Cup. And off the pitch he's got the Gucci deal apparently, which is more people telling him how good he is, not to mention on top of everything else he's probably got more money than he ever dreamt of.
And he seems to never previously have been someone who lacked confidence or self-belief.
So if it's gone now, why has it gone, and how can he get it back? Is there anything we as a club or the fans can do to help that?
I don't know the answer (although I'd suggest those City fans who tag him in abusive posts on social media probably aren't going the right way about it). But right now I'm firmly in the camp of believing a loss of confidence is usually temporary, and when it's over we'll see the best of him.
I agree with this. That left half-space is where he's most dangerous.
He played on the wing for Villa, but with the freedom to drift inwards. On the wing for us he's instructed to hold the width to make space for other players, and he follows those instructions and when the players in the space deliver it looks like an effective tactic, but it's not getting the most of his individual skillset.
He gives false 9 a go, but honestly I don't see the point of putting someone who's not a clinical finisher, whose biggest strength is progressing the ball up the pitch, in a position where he's closest to goal, with less space to run into and fewer people to pass forward to.
I want to see him as Gundo's understudy. I think the defensive and pace control aspects of his game have improved loads this year, but there's more to work on. But long-term I see him succeeding for us in that midfield role alongside Kev or Bernardo.