A bullish Pep Guardiola has said that will not be taking the upcoming World Cup into consideration in the slightest when picking his starting XIs for the first half of the season.
The football calendar has been turned on its head this season as the controversial Qatar World Cup will be held in the winter rather than its typical spot of the summer months during the off-season.
As a result, the campaign will be suspended after match day 16 on the weekend of November 12-13, with the call-up period for the World Cup beginning on the 14th.
There won't be long for Premier League players to prepare as the World Cup gets underway on Sunday, November 20, when hosts Qatar face Ecuador.
Read more on manchestereveningnews.co.uk