Phil Foden and John Stones give Man City what they need ahead of crucial fixtures

We're not quite at the toughest part of the season just yet but we're warming up.

There's still one final international break of 2023 to go before the fixtures truly come at breakneck speed over the festive period but Manchester City do have six games in the next three weeks in which Pep Guardiola will want his side to begin to find their best rhythm. Though it's been a very good start to the campaign in terms of results, only tainted by recent defeats to Wolves and Arsenal, the Blues have not yet been performing at their best.

It's understandable given departures and injuries have changed the makeup of the side significantly from the team that stormed to the treble. Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez have gone, Kevin De Bruyne played just 20 minutes before being ruled out until the new year, John Stones, Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic have all been injured and Rodri has missed the last three domestic games.

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With so much upheaval, City would be forgiven for losing more than twice yet they still managed to win their first six matches as if not much had happened. But even in most of those wins, performances have been flat. The defence has not been as secure and there has been a lack of spark in attacking areas, typified by Erling Haaland's slow start.

He still has eight goals in eight Premier League games and is still leading the charts, which by anyone else's standards is an astonishing start. But by the Norwegian sensation's freakish capabilities, he's actually down by nearly half on the 15 he already had at the same stage last season.

It's not to