Manchester City have landed in Houston and will begin their tour activities on Sunday as part of an action-filled eight days in the USA.
The tour began with the news that four key first team players wouldn't travel, but that gives others — including the four new signings — a chance to impress Pep Guardiola for a week ahead of the new season. A number of youngsters have travelled, too, giving a useful opportunity to show the coaching staff what they can do in a senior matchday environment.
With a heatwave warning back in the UK, City players will have been met with 35 degree temperatures in Texas when they arrived, plus the high humidity, with the potential to rise further during their stay in Houston. However, the 26-man squad will have to adapt as this week could play a key role in their prospects for the coming season.
ALSO READ: City suffer blow as four senior players miss pre-season tour
With two games and plenty of off-field activities, these are the talking points ahead of the USA tour:
First look at Haaland
All eyes will be on Erling Haaland whenever he is training or playing on the tour. Fans have noticed the lack of Haaland photos in training pictures published by the club, but he was front and centre of the squad as they boarded their flight to Houston, and his every kick will be analysed when City face Club America on Wednesday.
City will be hoping for a quick start from their new number nine, and what better way to get going in front of two huge crowds to hopefully arrive at the Community Shield clash with Liverpool with some momentum.
Alvarez and Phillips can make a point
The other two eye-catching new signings — with no disrespect to new back-up goalkeeper Stefan Ortega — are Julian Alvarez and Kalvin Phillips. Striker Alvarez has been spotted in conversation with Guardiola in training this week, and should be ahead of his new teammates fitness-wise after playing since February for River Plate.
Phillips will be another one to look out for, and should get more chance to impress as Ilkay Gundogan has not travelled. Both signings will be keen to put in two positive performances early on, but they both also open up new formation opportunities for City.
Alvarez could play up front alongside Haaland, or move out to the wing, while Phillips may provide a chance for two deep midfielders, similar to the way England use him. Maybe these friendlies are the best chance to trial those options with less on the line.
Big week for Grealish and Ake
City will manage without Gundogan, Phil Foden and Aymeric Laporte, and Guardiola has always encouraged an environment where players can keep their places if they take an opportunity and perform. In Jack Grealish's case, he now has an early chance to make the left-wing spot his own for the Community Shield without Foden to compete with for two games, especially after the departures of Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus.
Similarly, Nathan Ake may get a few more minutes without Laporte in the US, after it was revealed that he will stay at City this season after Chelsea failed to meet his asking price. Ake is a player who often performs when given the chance, so expect the same in these two friendlies.
Ten youngsters to look out for
The expected young players have travelled — Cole Palmer, James McAtee, Liam Delap, Kayky and Luke Mbete — and all will be hoping to build on good seasons last year in a rare opportunity to get some back-to-back game time.
Then there's five academy players less familiar with the first team, who may hope to catch Guardiola's eye. Josh Wilson-Esbrand will help manage the minutes of the senior full-backs, as will last season's U18 breakout star Rico Lewis — a player rarely spotted around the first team. Oscar Bobb was one of the U23's best performers last season while others dropped in and out, while Finley Burns impressed on loan at Swansea. Ben Knight — who started last year's Community Shield — struggled with injuries on loan at Crewe, and will hope to make up for lost time.
Two testing games
While the Club America fixture looks to be an easy City win on paper, they have been playing fixtures for almost a month and faced Chelsea in Las Vegas on Saturday. Set to be backed by a noisy following in Houston, they could provide a useful barometer for City, especially having played Chelsea, as one of just two pre-season games.
In Green Bay, Bayern Munich need no introduction. The Germans will have Sadio Mane in their squad, as well as former Blue Leroy Sane, giving Guardiola's squad an elite test before facing Liverpool a week later for the Community Shield. City may have just two games in the US, but neither will be easy and each will provide a different sort of test.
City will also be looking to make the most of the off-field opportunities that they'll get in the States, too, with plenty of activities planned to engage US-based fans and the commercial benefits that come with a US tour.
READ NEXT
