Man City starting XI vs Manchester United in Community Shield taking shape as dream lineup emerges

Manchester City are back in training in a fortnight to kick-start preparations for the 2024/25 season, before embarking on a four-game tour of the USA to get fitness into the limited number of players available to Pep Guardiola.

Most of Guardiola's big-hitters have been at the Euros in Germany - although three have already been knocked out - and they will need sufficient time to rest and recover following a long season. Next season won't be any better, with 11-months between their first and last games, so the more help they can give players now, the better it could be next summer.

After tour games vs Celtic, AC Milan, Barcelona and Chelsea, City are back at Wembley to exact revenge on Manchester United in the Community Shield.

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City have lost the last three editions of the Community Shield, with narrow defeats to Arsenal and Liverpool following a reverse at Wembley to Leicester - who had a far fitter squad in 2021 as most of City's players had been at the last edition of the Euros.

No club had more players at the Euros this year than City, and United will be able to call upon the likes of Harry Maguire, Marcus Rashford and Antony at Wembley, all having a summer off.

City can boast a similar number of big names who have not been in action over the summer, with Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish and Ederson available. All would be expected to start vs United - unless Guardiola wants to play cup goalkeeper Stefan Ortega.

Rico Lewis has a golden opportunity on tour to kick on, and will probably be used at right-back in Kyle Walker's absence,