Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca is hoping England will rest Elliot Anderson and Marc Guehi on Tuesday, with a demanding week ahead for his side.
Anderson reached 20 England caps in the 7-0 win over Croatia, doing so quicker than anyone in England history - his first cap came just 392 days earlier. The statistic highlights how little rest the City midfielder has had.
Heavy Workload for City Duo
Anderson was ever-present for Nottingham Forest last season, combining Premier League survival with a run to the Europa League semi-final. He was also key for Thomas Tuchel at the World Cup and has been heavily relied upon by Maresca this season.
This international window has been intense - four games rather than the usual two. Anderson entered it among the top England players for minutes played since the start of last season, alongside Marc Guehi, who has been City's best defender this season.
Concerns Over Fatigue
Guehi settled seamlessly into regular City action after moving from Crystal Palace and has also had barely a break. Both players have started all three England matches in recent days.
Maresca would happily see them sit out Tuesday's home game, especially with City heading to Liverpool on Sunday and hosting Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday. The duo are likely to be among the first names on his teamsheet for at least the Premier League fixture.
Previous Burnout Issues
Their minutes on Tuesday are not in his hands. City have already seen with Erling Haaland, Antoine Semenyo and Nico O'Reilly that players with long, busy campaigns need rest to avoid breaking down.
Norway coach Stale Solbakken played down concerns around Haaland after he asked to be substituted on Sunday. Still, it is asking a lot for the No.9 to return to Manchester on Thursday and be at his sharpest again.
Several issues are lining up for Maresca beyond the storm around the guilty verdicts. Seeing Anderson and Guehi return in one piece from this international window would be a significant blessing for the City boss.
