Pep Guardiola can sense serious danger ahead of facing Newcastle United and called on Manchester City’s supporters to raise the roof in a bid to rouse his jaded squad.
City did not train on the eve of hosting the Magpies, instead spending time in the pool and on the treatment table, with Guardiola bemoaning a lack of restbite since the Super Cup victory in midweek.
John Stones, Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne are all missing for the weekend – the latter heading for surgery on a hamstring injury - and City are scouring the market to sign a new central midfielder as a deal for Lucas Paqueta hit the buffers.