Manchester City play Girona on Saturday in the club’s only warm-up match ahead of the resumption of club football next week.
The Blues face Liverpool on Thursday in the Carabao Cup but are expected to put out a weakened side for the fourth-round tie given how many City stars featured at the World Cup. Sixteen of Pep Guardiola’s squad travelled to Qatar, with Julian Alvarez and Argentina set to play in Sunday’s showpiece final.
Of the 15 who have been eliminated from the tournament, only two - Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne - are likely to play any part in Saturday’s friendly. The remaining 13 will return to the club next week and some could play a role against Liverpool depending on their fitness levels.
That group includes Ederson, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, Aymeric Laporte, Joao Cancelo, Rodri, Kalvin Phillips, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish, none of whom will play for City this weekend.
The few first-team players who weren’t involved in the World Cup have been preparing for the season’s resumption at City’s training ground, following the club’s warm-weather training camp in Abu Dhabi last week. Several younger players also travelled with the senior squad and they are expected to help Guardiola again fill any gaps in his team for the Girona clash.
The heart of defence in particular is an issue for the Catalan coach, with none of his five centre-backs back in training yet. With all that in mind, here’s how we think Guardiola will line-up for Saturday’s friendly at the Academy Stadium.
1. GK: Stefan Ortega Moreno
With no Ederson around, City’s back-up goalkeeper is expected to start, although Scott Carson is another option.
2. RB: Rico Lewis
Played six times this season for the senior side and has tended to operate at right-back. The 18-year-old netted his first City goal in November’s win over Sevilla.
3. CB: Finley Burns
With all of City’s senior centre-backs expected to be unavailable, the teenager could play at the heart of defence. Burns played the full 90 minutes for the first team in last season’s 6-1 Carabao Cup win over Wycombe Wanderers.
4. CB: Jadel Katongo
Has tended to start alongside Burns at centre-back this season for City’s Under-21s side.