Manchester City get their season underway on Sunday – and Pep Guardiola now has all but one player back after the summer.
Manchester City have not had the most ideal preparation for the 2024/25 campaign.
The club had a number of representatives at Euro 2024, with four players featuring in the final.
In the end, it was Rodri who came out on top, and he is the only player not to have been back. The midfielder is supposed to be returning to the club today.
On Monday, the three England boys returned for City following the win in the Community Shield.
And two of them, Kyle Walker and John Stones, have now sent messages to City fans after making their returns to the club.
Kyle Walker and John Stones both raring to go after finally resuming Man City training
Manchester City face Chelsea on Sunday in their opening Premier League game.
It will potentially be a big test, although City got the better of the Blues in pre-season a couple of weeks ago.
Chelsea finished last season strongly. But they are under new leadership once again, with Enzo Maresca now at the helm following Mauricio Pochettino’s departure.
Pep’s teamsheet is going to be interesting. It could well include some of the players who came back last week, including Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Jeremy Doku. All three of the players got minutes against Manchester United last weekend, with Doku even starting.
He might not go with any of the England players, who only returned to training on Monday. Rodri will also be a major doubt, meaning the manager is surely thinking of ways to replace him.
But at least the England players have now come back, and both Walker and Stones sent messages to fans on social media yesterday to mark their returns.
Uploading four pictures, Walker wrote: “Good to be back 😀”
Stones said: “Feels good to be back home!! Roll on the new season 😃”
Phil Foden has yet to post and has not actually been spotted in training gear yet.
Walker and Stones unlikely to feature vs Chelsea
City fans are excited for the game against Chelsea – but it would be a real surprise if Walker, Stones or Foden played. Ditto Rodri.
To go into that first game with just a few training sessions under their belts doesn’t seem ideal, and Pep will surely want them to build their fitness and sharpness again before throwing them back in.
They were all heavily involved in the summer and this game might just come too soon.
In the event of Walker not playing, Rico Lewis deserves to start. If Stones cannot play, then Manuel Akanji seems like the best partner for Ruben Dias.
Mateo Kovacic is bound to replace Rodri, and could perhaps play as a single pivot or with youngster Nico O’Reilly.
Either De Bruyne or Bernardo will probably play as the advanced midfielder in place of Foden.
