Manchester City will wait until the 11th hour to name their line-up to face Leicester City in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to impact elite sport worldwide, the chaotic events which unfolded in Brazil during the international break means City could now be without goalkeeper Ederson and Gabriel Jesus at the King Power Stadium.
Having stood firm and prevented players from taking part in qualifiers that were being held in red-list countries, or those which required a lengthy quarantine period upon a return landing in the UK, a knock-on threat was issued to the Premier League by the Brazilian FA.
If that ‘decision’ is upheld, Brazilian players across the division will be subject to a five-day omission.
Of course, with second-choice stopper Zack Steffen contracting coronavirus, meanwhile, that would-be absence regarding Ederson means veteran Scott Carson is on stand-by to play against the Foxes.
Speaking during his pre-match press conference, though, manager Pep Guardiola hinted that he would be open to playing Ederson and Jesus.
He said: “We are going to wait until tomorrow. Right now I think they are going to play, because I don’t have other instructions. I don’t know about all the clubs going together.
“This kind of situation I am not a big fan, everyone thinks for themselves.”
Regardless of having to make those two changes or not, the Spaniard has been boosted during the build-up as fit-again Belgium playmaker Kevin de Bruyne appears set to feature.
Aymeric Laporte is, too, available for selection on the back of an international injury scare.
While on duty for Spain, the centre-back was forced off after 45 minutes during a 2022 World Cup qualifier against Georgia, but did return to their starting line-up three days later as Kosovo were beaten 2-0 in Pristina.
John Stones and Raheem Sterling are also in contention to start after their international exploits for England.
City predicted line-up vs Leicester City: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Cancelo; Rodri, Gundogan, Grealish; Mahrez, Torres, Sterling.
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