Pep Guardiola's face lit up in the press room of Bramall Lane when Aymeric Laporte's name was mentioned.
Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne had done what they do best to decide the Premier League game with Sheffield United on Tuesday but the story of the night belonged to Manchester City's returning defender. Blues were buzzing when news filtered through of him arriving with the squad and being named in the starting line up, and the performance and clean sheet that followed made it even better.
For everything nice the manager said about his star man, he still steered the conversation towards the man that had replaced him on the night, Eric Garcia.
It is over a year since the young Spaniard made his debut for the first team but his progress has been rapid in recent months and has made a serious impression on both his coach and his more senior teammates.
"Eric is an incredible guy. He played perfectly in the game with Sheffield United at home and today he saved the last incredible cross," said Guardiola. "He's a real defender, it was exceptional.
"All I know is that Eric played pre-season last season, this pre-season, in the Champions League or the Carabao Cup or today, and he never fails. He is always perfect, he never makes mistakes."
As reassuring as Laporte's return was, Garcia has surely inked himself into the plans for next season.
It was a considerable mistake not to sign a central defender last summer when Vincent Kompany left and there were doubts over Nicolas Otamendi's future at the club; Laporte's injury simply exacerbated the problem. If the stuttering Premier League title defence has been a disappointment, the emergence of Garcia has at least been a consolation to come out of it.
With Otamendi likely on his way this summer and John Stones no closer to proving he can be a top class defender, City will still need to go back into the market for a marquee signing at the back. Just as refusing to pay over the odds for Jorginho in 2018 only made central midfield more of a transfer priority the following year, so the same stands for Harry Maguire in 2019 and this summer.
But Laporte is one centre-back definitely part of the plans, Garcia looks to be a second given his performances and Fernandinho will make three should his contract be renewed - as expected. Stones could also make a fourth, with Taylor Harwood-Bellis - another youngster - embellishing that pack.
Add in a centre-back that can come straight into the starting XI on a regular basis and City's biggest weakness from this season should be eradicated for their next title pursuit.