The majority of Manchester City players will be given a few days' mid-season break after the Premier League clash with Southampton.
The Blues will have no game for a fortnight after avoiding any Covid postponements during the ravages of the Omicron variant, returning with an FA Cup fourth-round tie against Fulham on February 5, followed by a home league game with Brentford four days later.
Only Ederson and Gabriel Jesus will miss the break, as they have been called up to the Brazil squad which has re-arranged World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay during the fortnight club break.