Manchester City's new Under-23s coach Enzo Maresca will miss the start of their season because of quarantine restrictions.
Maresca, who played for Sevilla and Juventus and served as Manuel Pellegrini's coaching assistant at West Ham, was appointed as the successor to Paul Harsley at the end of August. However, due to the current guidelines he has been forced to stay home for two weeks on arrival in the UK and so will miss the start of the campaign.
That means that Danny Walker, promoted to be the Under-23s assistant coach after previously working with a younger age group, will be on the touchline on Tuesday when the young Blues take on Mansfield in the EFL Trophy in their opening game of this campaign.
“Even though Enzo can’t be there tonight, I’ve been in contact with him every day and he’s had a big say in who’s going to play and what we’re going to do," Walker told mancity.com.
“He has been thoroughly involved even though he can’t get out on the grass. For me personally it been exciting to meet him and work with him. Enzo’s a top, top guy and I think he’s going to be great - not just for the lads but for the environment, and for the Club and he’ll give the lads something a little bit new.
“I know Enzo wants us to go there and to be brave and to try to show our personality.”
City will also play Scunthorpe - who knocked them out last season - and Lincoln in the group stage.
