Break bonus for Pep on his return

THE message from Pep Guardiola to his Manchester City players last week was simple: please don't get injured.

- SIMON BAJKOWSKI

The window where stars go off to represent their countries is always feared by clubs as their control on what could happen to their assets disappears. It is why City work so hard to build relationships with national teams, including sending their own staff to look after Erling Haaland for Norway.

However, where normally these breaks are seen as detracting from the rhythm and order of the domestic calendar this one has served up something positive for the Blues. Concerns around Mateo Kovacic will need to be addressed, but otherwise motivations have been stoked.

Whether Gareth Southgate was right or wrong (spoiler: he's wrong but probably not as wrong as he could be) with his comments on Phil Foden playing in midfield doesn't change the fact that he will be the ultimate judge of whether Foden starts for England at Euro 2024.