Man City lineup vs. Celtic: Predicted XI for pre-season friendly

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola must work around the absences of no fewer than 15 international stars for the Citizens' opening pre-season friendly against Celtic on Tuesday in North Carolina.

As well as Copa America winner Julian Alvarez, who is now competing with Argentina at the Paris Olympics, 14 Euro 2024 representatives in Rodri, Kyle Walker, Phil Foden, John Stones, Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, Joao Cancelo, Matheus Nunes, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku, Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol are still on a break.

Kovacic and Gvardiol are expected to join up with the squad for the second half of their USA tour, as might new signing Savio, but none of the trio will be at Guardiola's disposal on Tuesday.

However, Norwegian goal machine Erling Haaland is fit and raring to go, as is Jack Grealish, who has a point to prove to whoever the new England manager may be after his Euro 2024 snub.

The pair could join the youthful James McAtee and Oscar Bobb in the attacking quartet, while Kalvin Phillips should also be given a rare opportunity to impress in the middle, potentially alongside Maximo Perrone.

Due to lack of available defensive regulars, Rico Lewis may very well be the most 'senior' member - in terms of first-team experience rather than age - of the Citizens' four-man backline, which could also comprise Luke Mbete, Callum Doyle and Josh Wilson-Esbrand.

All three of Guardiola's senior goalkeepers - Ederson, Stefan Ortega and Scott Carson - are available, and the former is seemingly set to start in between the posts despite persistent links over a move to the Saudi Pro League.

Manchester City possible starting lineup: Ederson; Lewis, Doyle, Mbete, Wilson-Esbrand; Phillips, Perrone; Bobb, McAtee, Grealish; Haaland