Pep Guardiola is receiving a big boost ahead of the Community Shield, with a number of players returning to Manchester City training.
The manager has been without the bulk of his squad while out in the US, having afforded those who were at major tournaments additional time off.
Guardiola therefore gave a lot of minutes to some of the club’s brightest young talents in the States – and some really took their opportunities.
James McAtee and Nico O’Reilly both impressed and will now be first-team options for Guardiola in the 2024/25 season.
The squad flew back to the UK on Sunday morning, and the players will be back in training on Tuesday – and Pep will be welcoming back a few more faces to his squad ahead of the Community Shield with Manchester United.
Pep Guardiola to welcome seven Manchester City players back to training, as well as new signing Savinho
It has been reported by the Manchester Evening News that Pep will now welcome back eight players to training on Tuesday.
Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva and Matheus Nunes were all back at the City Football Academy on Friday for testing.
Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji also returned today.
They will all be present for training tomorrow, as will new signing Savinho, who was unveiled to the fans at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
So that is eight players joining the squad, ahead of the Community Shield with Manchester United at Wembley on Saturday.
That just leaves those who were involved in the Euro 2024 final, and Julian Alvarez (Copa America and Olympics) as the only players still away.
When will Rodri, Foden, Walker, Stones and Alvarez return to Man City?
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This is really good news for Pep, who can now start to properly prepare for the new Premier League season.
While it has been good for him to get a look at other players this summer, it cannot have been ideal to be missing so many key players.
To have seven returning, and new signing Savinho beginning training is a big boost.
But Pep is still without Rodri, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker, John Stones and Julian Alvarez. According to the MEN, Rodri and the England boys have all been told to stay away ‘until they want to come back’. They are expected to return after the Community Shield.
Alvarez will be away for a few weeks after being with Argentina for the Copa America and then the Olympics. He is set to miss the start of the season for City, with the first Premier League game against Chelsea taking place on August 18.
