Manchester City manager Andree Jeglertz says Sam Coffey has added leadership and physicality to his squad, but has challenged the January signing to play an unfamiliar advanced role in midfield.
City signed United States midfielder Coffey from Portland Thorns last month for a club record fee of £600,000.
Yui Hasegawa and Laura Blindkilde-Brown have formed a strong midfield partnership for the Women's Super League leaders this season, but Jeglertz believes the addition of Coffey has improved the dynamic of the team.
"She is a little different from the other [midfielders]. She is a more physical player than the other ones in that position, speaking a bit more, taking leadership on the field," Jeglertz said before City's WSL match against Leicester on Friday [13 February, 19:00 GMT].
"She is a little bit different and that is good for us because that makes the dynamic of the team even better."
Coffey is widely regarded as one of the best holding midfielders in the world, but Jeglertz wants the 27-year-old to develop her offensive game.
"To not be too predictable as a team, we need those playing in central positions to be playing both attacking and defending, to be both a higher six and lower six," he said.
"I want her [Coffey] to be able to play higher up if needed because that will make it more unpredictable for opponents. Players can't just play in one position, they must play in different areas of the field."
Coffey's three WSL appearances since joining City have all come from the bench, but she will likely become a regular starter when Hasegawa goes to the Asian Cup with Japan next month.
Jeglertz expects to have a full squad to choose from on Friday, with forwards Mary Fowler (knee) and Aoba Fujino (concussion) fit and available.