Man City team vs Palermo will offer clear hint as injury concerns emerge and transfer questions linger

Manchester City have left out several big names for the friendly

Manchester City players train ahead of their return to action

Manchester City have travelled to Italy with 22 players for their pre-season fixture with Palermo, but it's those not with the squad where most of the questions sit.

As expected, City have left behind Jack Grealish, James McAtee and Stefan Ortega, with all three set to depart the Etihad this summer. City are in talks with Everton over a potential loan move for Grealish while McAtee has an array of suitors including Nottingham Forest and clubs in Europe.

Ortgea has dropped down the pecking order following the summer arrival of goalkeeper James Trafford and will explore a move.

But City also left Rodri, Phil Foden, Josko Gvardiol and Claudio Echeverri out of the squad with all four deemed not fit enough. It raises the question of whether all or any will be able to feature in the opening game of the Premier League season against Wolves next week.

The biggest question mark will be over Rodri, who only returned from a serious knee injury in the latter stages of last season. Pep Guardiola has been clear he is in no desire to rush the Spaniard back.

If he is to sit out the season opener, then it will be a test of new signing Tijjani Reijnders, while it could also open the door for Nico Gonzalez to feature with the latter having slipped behind Reijnders in the midfield pecking order.

City's selection against Palmero will also offer a hint as to how Guardiola might shape up for the domestic campaign, particularly at right back - where Rico Lewis and Mathues Nunes are battling for the starting spot - and in the attacking positions behind Erling Haaland.

Bernardo Silva is club captain and as such will surely start the majority of games but he can operate in a number of positions. City could start with out-and-out wingers like Jeremy Doku and Savinho in the wide positions, or utilise summer signing Rayan Cherki and Omar Marmoush in those roles. The latter two can also operate at number 10 while Ilkay Gundogan and potentially Oscar Bobb and Nico O'Reilly will have designs on minutes in midfield.

At the back, Gvardiol's absence could present John Stones with valuable match minutes in the middle of defence, while Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji will want to ensure they remain part of the City squad moving forward amid question marks over their long-term futures.

It all adds up to an intriguing situation ahead of City's return to action.

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