Maresca gives City's non-travelling players two weeks off before Liverpool trip

Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Manchester City players not involved in the international break will be given the full two weeks off, with the squad not due to reconvene until the Thursday before their Premier League fixture at Anfield on Sunday.

Unlike his predecessor Pep Guardiola, who was known for using international windows to travel, Maresca will be staying close to home with his school-age children. But that does not mean he plans to run additional sessions with the players who remain in Manchester.

Phil Foden and Rico Lewis have not been called up by England, Matheus Nunes was left out of the Portugal squad, Allan has not featured at senior level for Brazil, and Jeremy Doku was omitted from Belgium’s plans following a recent injury. All five will be free to manage their own time over the coming fortnight, trusted to strike the right balance between rest and maintaining fitness.

For Doku in particular, that period may involve some individual rehabilitation work at the City Football Academy to aid his recovery, though there will be no organised group training sessions.

Maresca will begin working with the non-travelling players again in the week leading up to the Liverpool match. Those returning from international duty are expected to be back in Manchester by Thursday, giving the full squad several days together before the trip to Anfield.