Southampton could be last chance for Man City fringe stars to claim title run-in starting spot

Sunday’s FA Cup clash with Southampton could be a final chance for some Manchester City stars to stake their claim for a spot in the starting XI for the intense title run-in.

If Pep Guardiola’s side were to participate in the Champions League final tomorrow, who would be the guaranteed starters in midfield and attack? At the moment, Riyad Mahrez, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Rodri would all be involved – so that leaves one spot still up for grabs.

That is, of course, a hypothetical scenario. But the fact remains that City are approaching the crunch fixtures; the ones that separate the men from the boys and the ones that get both hands on the silverware. The Blues learned on Friday that a two-legged affair with Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final will fall either side of a potential title-deciding Premier League clash with Liverpool. It looks like it will be a make-or-break week in terms of how successful Guardiola’s side will become in May.

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For that, the Catalan will want a settled side, so he could very well use this fixture to determine what his best front six will be. Among those vying for the one remaining forward line spot are Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Jack Grealish. All bring their own unique strengths, but all have failed to really hit the heights they're capable of this season.

Sterling has scored 10 goals in the Premier League this season and has had spells as a regular starter in the team. However, Grealish looks to have replaced him in Guardiola's preferred XI in recent weeks following some impressive performances of his own.

Jesus has become more and more like a castaway. The Brazilian