Manchester City had plenty of academy prospects training with the senior squad for Enzo Maresca's first session in charge
Young Manchester City trio Jeremy Monga, Ryan McAidoo and Divine Mukasa
Young Manchester City trio Jeremy Monga, Ryan McAidoo and Divine Mukasa
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The dust has only just settled on the World Cup but already the countdown to the new domestic season has begun.
Manchester City players returned to training on Monday as new manager Enzo Maresca oversaw his first session as Blues boss. There were several absentees, with the bulk of City's World Cup stars still yet to return as they head off on a post-World Cup break.
But Maresca did welcome Abdukodir Khusanov back to the fold after Uzbekistan's group stage exit in North America, while the likes of Gianluigi Donnarumma, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish were present.
Alongside the senior stars were several returning loanees, including Claudio Echeverri and Vitor Reis, while there was also a clutch of academy prospects among the 23.
The youngsters tallied the bulk of the training group, with 14 in total seeking to impress new boss Maresca, who will take plenty on tour this summer given the absence of the first team players who went deep in the World Cup.
Not all those who trained on Monday will travel to Asia for games with Inter Milan, the K-League All Stars and Atletico Madrid, but opportunity will knock for plenty.
Goalkeeper Oliver Whatmuff is likely to be on the plane even though the stopper has agreed a loan switch to League One Stockport County for the new season. With James Trafford missing and new signing Pierce Charles having left on loan for QPR, teenager Jack Wint has been added to the training group with the 19-year-old impressing in the academy last season.
Defensive duo Max Alleyne and Stephen Mfuni both spent time on loan at Watford last season and both could leave on loan again this summer, even though there could be a fifth centre-back spot open at City following the departure of Nathan Ake. Left back Christian McFarlane, 19, is another defensive option for Maresca to monitor and a player who had a strong campaign at Under-21 level last term.
Midfielder Floyd Samba was named on the bench for the first team for last season's win over Salford City and will be one hoping to stake his claim, as will brother Tyrone, an eyecatching forward capable of playing on both flanks and through the middle.
Xavier Parker and Ryan McAidoo have both been the subject of transfer interest this summer with the latter making a goalscoring debut for City when he netted in the FA Cup win over Exeter City in January, while Divine Mukasa is another highly-rated talent who has already played for the first team. The former West Ham man has been tipped to make the breakthrough into the City senior squad on a more regular basis this summer having signed a contract extension following a loan spell at Leicester City in the second half of last season.
Divine Mukasa
Divine Mukasa
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Divin Mubama was also on loan in the Championship last season with the striker at Stoke City. The 21-year-old scored five goals in 20 starts, including a hat-trick against Bristol City, and looks to be at a career crossroads ahead of a pivotal summer.
Brooklyn Nfonkeu is another name to keep an eye on. He played mainly as a full back for City's Under-21s last season having come through the ranks as a winger, while Mahamadou Sangare scored 15 goals last season in his first campaign with the Blues having joined from PSG.
And last but not least is new arrival Jeremy Monga, who joined for £10million from Leicester City this month. He will tour with the first team and all options are on the table for the 17-year-old, who was coming through the ranks in the Midlands while Maresca was in charge of the first team.
Maresca arrives at the Etihad with knowledge of plenty of City's emerging talents having spent a year as Under-21 boss in 2021, and he will be giving pre-season minutes to plenty over the coming weeks. For the next generation of Blues, it's a huge chance to stake a claim for what comes next in their development.