Pep has keen eye on Jack and England

THEY'RE dropping like flies at City. Manu Akanji and, out of nowhere, Matheus Nunes are the latest to withdraw from international duty with injuries.

- JOE BRAY

They join John Stones, Nathan Ake, Ruben Dias and Kevin de Bruyne in missing this week's action for a variety of fitness-related reasons.

Rodri and Oscar Bobb are out long-term, and it would be no surprise to see Jack Grealish or Jeremy Doku follow suit.

If they both pull out, City will be in the unfamiliar position of having more players back in Manchester than away with their countries. Guardiola will welcome that to an extent, even if the new setbacks represent more bad news.

“I’m always pleased for players to go – when they are fit,” the City boss said last week.

“And when they haven’t struggled for the last one, two, three, four weeks. I’m more than satisfied for them to play. They love to play with their national teams.”