Nine players set to join Manchester City first-team squad on Tuesday ahead of Manchester United clash

Pep Guardiola is set to be boosted by the return of nine players to his first-team squad on Tuesday as preparations step up for the FA Community Shield this weekend.

Manchester City have returned to England and immediately issued a short period of time off to the first-team stars who featured in the United States on a four-game tour of the country over the last three weeks.

The likes of Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish were complimented by a full range of first-team goalkeepers as well as rising Academy stars who impressed Guardiola and his coaching staff in a schedule of matches that brought three defeats and one victory for the top-flight champions.

But while all players on the tour will no doubt be feeling close to fully match ready for the incoming FA Community Shield against Manchester United on Saturday afternoon, a long list of players are still to get their own club preparations underway.

That is until this week, when Pep Guardiola and his coaching staff are expected to welcome up to nine new players into the first-team system as they work towards the season’s opening competitive fixture against local rivals.

As per the information of the Manchester Evening News’ Simon Bajkowski, all of Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva and Matheus Nunes returned to the City Football Academy training base on Friday for testing ahead of starting their pre-season.

It is further pointed out that central defensive duo Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji returned to the CFA on Monday, and will all be joined on Tuesday by Pep Guardiola and his first-team squad who returned to England from the United States on Sunday morning.

The eight returning players will also be joined by new signing Savinho, who was presented to Manchester City fans on Sunday afternoon following his £33.6 million arrival from Troyes earlier this summer.

Despite nine players being added into the first-team group, Pep Guardiola is expected to remain without a further five players for the weekend’s clash against Erik ten Hag’s men at Wembley Stadium.

Manchester City’s European Championship final stars in Rodri, Kyle Walker, John Stones, and Phil Foden have been told to return to the club whenever they feel ready enough to do so, and are likely to return around the time of the game on Saturday.

Julian Alvarez is also not expected back until later this summer, however there is a very strong possibility that the Argentina international may have already completed a move to Atletico Madrid before his holiday period issued by the Premier League champions is complete.