Double blow for City

Manchester City look certain to be without Dietmar Hamann and Andy Cole for the Premiership opener at champions Chelsea.

Hamann has failed to recover from a foot problem picked up on City’s recent tour of China, while Cole is yet to make an appearance in pre-season after struggling to recover from a knee problem.

Richard Dunne should be fit despite missing Republic of Ireland’s midweek defeat to Holland with a hamstring strain, while Sylvain Distin will play if his proposed move to Middlesbrough has not gone through.

Provisional squad: Isaksson, Weaver, Sun Jihai, Onuoha, Richards, Mills, Dunne, Distin, Jordan, Thatcher, Sinclair, Reyna, Dabo, Barton, Vassell, Samaras, Corradi, Dickov, Sturridge.