Manchester City will be without John Stones, Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden for their pre-season visit to the USA this month.
Aymeric Laporte also misses the flight across the Atlantic. The reasons for their absence have not been disclosed, but all are expected to join up with the squad in time for the Community Shield clash with Liverpool on July 30.
It means Pep Guardiola has been able to stack his 26-man squad with youth. The unavailability of the aforementioned foursome also offers a fantastic opportunity for more senior players.
READ MORE: Man City suffer blow as four senior players miss their pre season tour
The Premier League champions will take on Club America and Bayern Munich across the pond before returning to Manchester. By that time, Oleksandr Zinchenko could be an Arsenal player with a move close.
It would leave City with a limited number of senior defenders in the States, offering the chance for starlets to make their mark. It will also hand Guardiola the opportunity to try out different tactics ahead of the start of the season.
Kalvin Phillips
One of said tactics could be to deploy two holding midfielders. Kalvin Phillips has been brought in presumably to play alongside Rodri, who had a terrific campaign last season.
The England star, though, will have the opportunity to show that he can become first-choice in case Guardiola does decide to revert to a one-man pivot.
Luke Mbete
City only have two established senior centre-backs in their squad for the trip to the USA, with Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake making the plane. It means Luke Mbete will be handed his fair share of minutes along the backline, especially if Zinchenko leaves.
The England under-19 international has been impressing in the academy and featured for the first team against Sporting Lisbon and Swindon last season. He was regularly named on the bench by Guardiola towards the end of the campaign and will be looking to push on for more minutes next term.
Cole Palmer
Cole Palmer’s season was disrupted by a three-month foot injury earlier this year which hampered his progress. He had made great strides in the first half of the campaign and earned a Premier League start against Everton in November.
He still managed to net eight goals in as many games in Premier League 2 and found the net against Club Brugge in the Champions League. With Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus gone and Foden out of the picture, Palmer will be hoping to force himself into Guardiola’s main plans once again - and will undoubtedly get his opportunity in America.
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