Cristiano Ronaldo will be hoping to come back with the right kind of bang when the EPL returns with a derby bonanza this weekend.

A painful blow to the face while playing for Portugal was not the only damage to his image in a miserable week for the superstar.

Many Portuguese fans had called for the unthinkable: for him to be dropped from the national side even before the narrow loss to Spain.

A headline in the biggest sports paper A Bola’s pleaded: “Less Ronaldo, more Portugal.”

But Spain stole it with an 88th minute winner.

It also emerged that he’d been closer to deserting Manchester United and succumbing to the Saudi zillions than he’d previously let on.

More than enough for him to want to make the right noises in Sunday’s mouth-watering clash with neighbours Manchester City.

Arsenal host north London rivals Tottenham in Saturday’s blockbuster early kickoff with the winner going top of the table.

At the bottom, there’s also a ding-dong battle in prospect when Leicester and neighbours Nottingham Forest meet on Monday.

But it is likely to be Ronaldo who steals the headlines as he usually does whether on the field or sulking off it.

He loves nothing better than the big games and this clash at the Etihad presents him with the perfect stage to quieten the doubters.

City was, after all, his original destination when he left Juventus.

We all know what happened next but few imagined he’d become a bit-part player, confined to the bench on the Sunday/Thursday roster.

To his credit, he has knuckled down but only after every escape route was blocked off.

He had hopes for Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and even a return to Italy, but the most eye-popping offer of all came from Saudi Arabia.

Only this week, Al-Hilal president Farhad ben Nafel confirmed the club’s interest was genuine and a deal was negotiated.

It would have been worth £2 million a week and £210m in total plus a transfer fee.

Ben Nafel claimed the Portuguese was happy with the terms “in principle.”

The problem was that Al-Hilal were banned from signing players by the Sports Arbitration Court.

If that was the case, you could ask why the club pursued him in the first place? Or was it just a publicity stunt?

But as ex-Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan told Talksport: “It’s an absurd amount of money and makes a mockery of sporting integrity.”

The parallel was made with Tiger Woods turning down £800m from LIV golf as was the suggestion that Ronaldo might have been more Tiger-like in his rejection to quell suggestions that he’d been in the least bit tempted.

But he cannot be blamed for something he didn’t do while the sums are such that even statues would have had their heads turned.

Sunday would be the perfect time for a riposte and a reminder that he’s still the player for the big occasion.

The trouble is that even if fit, he may not start.

He’s only done so on one occasion in the EPL and three in all.

Goals have been hard to come by with a solitary penalty against Sheriff Tiraspol in the Europa League being his lone strike.

But compatriot and United teammate Bruno Fernandes defended the five-time Ballon d’Or winner saying: “He’s fine. He was denied by the Spanish goalkeeper three times.”

The dam may be about to burst and with the World Cup 50 days away, there would be no better time for both club and country for CR7 to rediscover his shooting boots.

United have recovered well from their dire start but the loss to Real Sociedad was a reminder that they’re still a work in progress.

Ronaldo’s place may depend on Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial’s form and fitness, but even a scoring cameo could change a season.

Indeed, anything but a hiding at City’s hands would constitute a minor triumph.

Much may depend on what happens at the other end of the field.

The fledgling centre-back partnership of Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez will have its hands full with Erling Haaland.

And Martinez’s lack of height could be exposed.

Conversely, City’s back line has been less than water-tight and John Stones is likely to be missing.

It could be an opportunity Ronaldo has been waiting for to make his mark on the season.

United will be underdogs but an unlikely win would mark them as top contenders.

A win for City would only send them top if Saturday’s north London derby ends in a draw.

Arsenal’s only loss has been at United and they have played better football than Spurs who have been getting results without clicking.

It will be a fascinating encounter between two sides for whom a top four place is a must after spending heavily in the summer.

Two ex-City players, Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko, have played big parts in the Gunners’ impressive start.

But under Antonio Conte, Spurs have been developing more of a killer instinct and now have Son Heung Min smiling again after his hattrick last time out.

The Gunners’ quickfire passing game may just be too much for the visitors whose weakness appears to be in midfield.

There are many tasty-looking encounters this weekend not least the basement clash between Leicester and Forest.

It’s also a battle between the club that spent nothing and the promoted one who spent £150m.

It could give a serious pointer into who survives a long, cold winter ahead.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.