After a short break to relax following their treble-winning heroics last season, Manchester City travel to Tokyo this week, where they will take on Japanese champions Yokohama F Marinos.
The European champions start tuning up for the 2023-24 campaign on Sunday, and following the departure of Champions League-winning captain Ilkay Gundogan and another injury for talisman Kevin De Bruyne, they will have to select a new-look midfield.
Pep Guardiola can include recent arrival Mateo Kovacic, who has picked up the number eight shirt left behind by Barcelona-bound Gundogan, but finding a suitable stand-in for De Bruyne could prove more challenging.
The possibility of shifting Phil Foden to a deeper position has been mooted, while James McAtee excelled at Sheffield United last term and could now make an impression back at his parent club.
Following an injury-scarred first year in Manchester, England midfielder Kalvin Phillips is also aiming to prove City's decision to sign him from Leeds United was right; Cole Palmer and Maximo Perrone are also in contention.
Elsewhere, World Cup winner Julian Alvarez could start up front to allow star striker Erling Haaland a longer break, with the latter following his incredible feats last season with more goals for Norway in the summer.
Mercurial winger Riyad Mahrez will not feature this week, as he nears a switch to Saudi Arabia, while doubts linger over the futures of Bernardo Silva and Kyle Walker, both of whom could depart during the transfer window. Portuguese winger Carlos Borges, meanwhile, appears destined for West Ham.
Manchester City possible starting lineup: Ortega; Akanji, Dias, Ake; Stones, Phillips; Lewis, Kovacic, McAtee, Foden; Alvarez
Jonathan O'Shea
