Manchester City's latest attempt to add a Champions League crown to their growing trophy cabinet begins in Ukraine on Wednesday night when they take on Shakhtar Donetsk.
Pep Guardiola will be demanding a response from his side following their stunning 3-2 defeat at the hands of newly-promoted Norwich City on Saturday - a result which left the champions five points behind Liverpool after five games.
It is the Champions League trophy currently held by Liverpool that Man City covet the most, though, and they begin the latest campaign once again amongst the favourites having been knocked out in dramatic fashion by Tottenham Hotspur in last season's quarter-finals.
Here, Sports Mole rounds up Man City's latest injury and suspension news ahead of Wednesday's match.
© Reuters
Status: Major doubt
Type of injury: Knee
Possible return date: September 18 (vs. Shakhtar)
Benjamin Mendy is closing in on his latest return to fitness, with Guardiola saying before the Norwich match that he was hopeful the full-back would feature in the coming games. There is only an outside chance he will be ready in time for Shakhtar, though, with next weekend's match against Watford a seemingly more realistic target.
© Reuters
Status: Out
Type of injury: Knee
Possible return date: February 29 (vs. Arsenal)
Leroy Sane will not feature again until next year after damaging his knee ligaments during the Community Shield, an injury which required surgery.
© Reuters
Status: Out
Type of injury: Knee
Possible return date: Unknown
Guardiola's decision not to bring in a new central defender during the summer appears to have backfired following a long-term injury to Aymeric Laporte. The Frenchman's importance was laid bare by a string of defensive errors against Norwich, and they will likely not have him back until the opening months of next year.
© Reuters
Status: Out
Type of injury: Muscle
Possible return date: October 19 (vs. Crystal Palace)
As if the injury to Laporte was not bad enough, Man City will also now be without John Stones for around five weeks after he picked up a muscular problem in training. Guardiola is left with Nicolas Otamendi as his only fit senior centre-back.
© Reuters
Status: Out
Type of injury: Virus
Possible return date: September 21 (vs. Watford)
Phil Foden will miss Wednesday's match due to a stomach virus, although Guardiola is hoping to have him back available for the weekend meeting with Watford.
MAN CITY'S SUSPENSION LIST
Man City have no players suspended for this match.
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