The international break was going so well for Manchester City. Now, they have three injury or fitness concerns.
First, Zack Steffen was ruled out of the USA's last two fixtures of the month after testing positive for Covid-19, and a concerning night got worse when Aymeric Laporte was replaced at half time of Spain's game on Sunday.
Jose Enrique, Spain manager, later said it was just 'muscle fatigue', and pictures showed Laporte training on Monday. Still, the word 'fatigue' shows maybe Laporte's workload should be managed in the next few days.
That means maybe Laporte should sit out the Premier League clash with Leicester on Saturday in what will be a big game for City as they look to continue to make up for that opening day defeat to Tottenham.
John Stones looked good for England against Hungary, and was given a welcome rest on Sunday against Andorra. He will likely return for the clash with Poland on Wednesday, but can still then be in good shape for the Saturday clash with the Foxes.
He might be needed, too, with fourth-choice centre-back Nathan Ake withdrawing from the Netherlands squad on Monday for 'personal circumstances'. He would have been unlikely to play anyway, but with Laporte 'fatigued', he might have been a fitter option. It's unclear whether Ake's circumstances will keep him out of the Leicester game.
So say Stones returns, it gives Pep Guardiola a fairly straightforward choice when it comes to picking his team at the weekend.
Ederson, fresh from signing a new contract, is a given, while Kyle Walker is the first choice at right-back. Joao Cancelo has had a good international break, so can come in on the left. Stones and Ruben Dias can start for the first time this season in the centre.
Rodri remains above Fernandinho for the big games, even though the club captain will have had a fortnight off, while Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva are the logical choice in midfield.
Kevin De Bruyne could return to the bench, as could Phil Foden, but it's unwise to risk them from the start with other good options like Gundogan or Bernardo.
Gabriel Jesus should get the chance to continue on the right, especially with him staying in Manchester and Riyad Mahrez representing Algeria during the break. Ferran Torres has taken his club form with him to Spain, so should lead the line upfront.
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The only real conundrum for Guardiola, then, is left-wing. Raheem Sterling started on the right for England against Hungary, with Jack Grealish left.
Sterling prefers the left for City, and it could come down to one or the other against Leicester. Maybe it will come down to whoever performs better for England on Wednesday and returns to City in better shape.
Then, the winger who misses out, along with Mahrez, De Bruyne and Foden, can come off the bench to make a difference.
Just like that, City will look in a far better position than when they faced Leicester in the Community Shield.
