While most of Manchester City players jet off somewhere warm for some relaxation this week, some of their players from the Americas have international duty.
Gabriel Jesus and Ederson have fixtures with Brazil over the next fortnight, while Zack Steffen is involved with the United States as their countries look to move closer to qualification for the Qatar World Cup. The former Columbus Crew stopper missed the weekend draw with Southampton but is expected to be able to play a full part with his national team.
City's top two goalkeepers should be back in time for the FA Cup match against Fulham at the Etihad on February 5, to the disappointment of anybody hoping to see Scott Carson between the sticks again. A Saturday afternoon kick-off has helped the Blues in that regard, as a Friday evening broadcast like in the last round against Swindon would have made for a better turnaround.
Pep Guardiola's decision could still be largely swung by the USA and Brazil schedules though.
Something the manager will have to look at when both return is what condition they are in, having spoken recently about the problems faced in those situations.
"Sometimes these guys — the Brazilians, Argentinians, other South Americans — they go there, with the pandemic situation, they play three games when before it was two, travel from here to Ecuador, to Bolivia, to Uruguay, to the other ones and then immediately afterwards take a plane back here and arrive with jet lag and in completely different conditions.
“Come on, they are human beings and suffer this change of lifestyle. Sometimes you arrive and feel more tired, for many reasons. It’s normal.
“Once they are here and come back to the team, and their lives, with their kids in school, and training sessions, and eating properly, and many, many things, things become back to normal."
Ederson (and Jesus) play their final game of the window on the evening of Tuesday February 2 in Belo Horizonte before making the journey back to Manchester.
Steffen's USA do not play their last match until 24 hours later when they take on Honduras in Minnesota.
Not only will Steffen have one day fewer to prepare for Fulham, arriving back on Thursday before the Saturday game, the 26-year-old will also have to make up six hours in time zones — double the difference of Ederson and Jesus coming from Brazil.
While both goalkeepers are capable of slotting into the 11 without taking part in every session ahead of the game, Ederson will carry an advantage of an extra day back in Manchester, which could lead Guardiola to decide to break from his usual policy of using Steffen in the domestic cups.
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