Pep Guardiola will have to test drive new-look Man City midfield on pre-season tour

It has felt like an absolute drag but Manchester City will soon be back in action.

It's actually only been a little over five weeks since City completed the treble by claiming the Champions League trophy but it seems like an age as there has been so little action. There was a brief flutter of activity when Ilkay Gundogan officially announced his departure at the end of June and Mateo Kovacic was quickly announced as his replacement at No.8 but otherwise little of note has happened.

Even the return of Pep Guardiola's side to pre-season training has been surprisingly subdued with City's social media accounts not posting any photographs or videos from the first sessions back until the squad were basically on the runway awaiting take-off to the Far East yesterday.

The stream of content is - eventually - going to hit like a meal after a prolonged wedding ceremony when City reach Japan for the first leg of their pre-season tour of Asia. The first friendly comes on Sunday, July 23, as the Blues take on Yokohama F Marinos.

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Though it's been a quiet summer so far there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding City. Gundogan's departure comes as a hefty blow, Riyad Mahrez looks set to leave next and the futures of Kyle Walker, Bernardo Silva, Joao Cancelo and Aymeric Laporte all remain in question while top target Josko Gvardiol is yet to arrive.

There's no need for panic stations as City remain miles ahead of their Premier League rivals, but the gap has gotten smaller as Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle have all strengthened in the window whereas the Blues are weaker.

Pre-season will provide a chance for City to get back