Gundo dilemma
Ilkay Gundogan and Aleks Zinchenko are the latest Manchester City stars to return to training, showing up this week to begin their pre-season preparations.
In normal circumstances, neither would be considered for a game until they had a week under their belts, but with a stunted pre-season, and this being their only chance for action before the Community Shield a week on Saturday, they could get 45 minutes against Barnsley.
The fact that Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo and Nathan Ake only returned the day before did not stop them being given playing time against Preston on Tuesday - but Gundogan’s injury record could cause City to be more cautious with him.
Zinchenko only washed up on Friday but, depending on his fitness readings, he could also get a run-out.
Minutes belted
The three players who returned last week all got 45 minutes under their belts against Preston, as did Fernandinho, Benjamin Mendy and Riyad Mahrez, who have all got a fortnight of training stowed in their reserves.
The norm would be to step that up, so that players in line for the showpiece against Leicester at Wembley a week later would get 60 minutes, taking them close to match fitness without placing too much risk on the players.
Anyone who gets 60 minutes is likely to be very much in the running for a place among the starters at Wembley.
Lavia look
City fans have seen little of Romeo Lavia, the 17-year-old defensive midfielder who made a few waves playing up at under-23 level last season.
So there was disappointment for some fans tuning in to the game against Preston in midweek to find that Lavia - along with striker Liam Delap and midfielder Tommy Doyle - were not available.
Delap is out of tomorrow’s game with an injury, but Lavia returned to training yesterday (Friday) and Doyle also has a chance of playing some part.
Young guns
Blues fans will be hoping to see more of the young players whop were impressive in the second half on Tuesday night, principally creative midfielder James McAtee, whose disguised assist earned comparisons with David Silva.
Flying left winger Sam Edozie also caught the eye, and he could also get another chance to shine under Guardiola’s nose.
Claudio Gomes was another - playing in his preferred defensive midfield slot - who gave everyone food for thought, so the manager might want to see more of him.
Cole return
Devante Cole left City six years ago after failing to make an impression on the first team other than playing a pre-season game against Supersport United during a South Africa tour in 2013.
The son of former City and United star Andy Cole is now 26 and has rejoined the Tykes after spending a season on loan with them from City seven years ago.
