The majority of Manchester City players will be given a few days' mid-season break after the Premier League clash with Southampton.
The Blues will have no game for a fortnight after avoiding any Covid postponements during the ravages of the Omicron variant, returning with an FA Cup fourth-round tie against Fulham on February 5, followed by a home league game with Brentford four days later.
Only Ederson and Gabriel Jesus will miss the break, as they have been called up to the Brazil squad which has re-arranged World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay during the fortnight club break.
They will fly out to join up with the Selecao after the Southampton game, and are due back three days before the Fulham game.
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