Benjamin Mendy wants Manchester City to benefit from "the real Mendy" between now and the end of the season.

The France left-back moved to the Etihad Stadium from Monaco for £52million in 2017 but his first two campaigns in the Premier League were decimated by bouts of knee surgery.

It has proved a long road back to form and fitness for the 25-year-old, who has only been able to show flashes of the dynamic qualities that saw him establish himself as one of the most exciting attacking full-backs in Europe as Monaco stormed to the 2016-17 Ligue 1 title.

An assured performance as City resumed their Premier League campaign with a 3-0 win over Arsenal last week won praise from Pep Guardiola and, with Chelsea up next at Stamford Bridge, Mendy is confident he can scale his previous heights.

"This is my time," he said. "The way Manchester City, the staff, the players were behind me, helped me, pushed me, I want to give them the real Mendy back.

"Inside, I know the way I work. It was hard when I was in the hospital, the recovery; this is the life. People don't see all of that. It is not easy.

"Even in the first game you are back you are expected to be at the top because people watch the game for that.

"They don't have time to say he was injured. They want a good performance and I understand that and it gives me more motivation to work hard. I think now I am in one my best periods at Manchester City."

The enforced lay-off from competitive action due to the coronavirus pandemic is one Mendy feels he used wisely.

"During the lockdown I was training all the time. We do our training with Manchester City but I was doing more," he explained.

"I know I need to work all the time because my knee needs to be good all of the time."

Such dedication is unlikely to go unnoticed by Guardiola, who questioned Mendy's focus at the start of last season, when he reported late for training the night after watching the heavyweight title bout between Anthony Joshua and Alexander Povetkin at Wembley Stadium.

The defender is keen to repay Guardiola's faith and, with the FA Cup and Champions League still up for grabs, put his stamp on a City trophy triumph he can truly feel a part of.

"When Pep says he missed me I am always happy. It is something very good and it touched me," Mendy added.

"I want to show him, I think he knows, but I want to show Manchester City and the world.

"First Manchester City, because it is my team and I love this team and give everything for them because they deserve that for what they did for me for two years, while winning the cups and titles.

"I played a few games, but honestly, you win and I don't feel the same. I am happy, but I don't feel the same. I want to fight and say I helped my team win this trophy."