Pep Guardiola's preparations for Manchester City's two games in three days next week have been given a boost.
City host Arsenal on Sunday, and thanks to a farcical set of circumstances, they will host Watford in the Carabao Cup just 49 hours after the Arsenal game finishes. With UEFA insisting that Manchester United's Europa League tie at Old Trafford takes place on Wednesday, Greater Manchester Police were unwilling to allow both teams to play at home on the same evening.
With the Blues travelling to Newcastle next Saturday at 12.30pm, City were then given the option of playing on the Tuesday, Thursday, or switching the tie to Watford. Guardiola revealed last week City chose to play on the Tuesday to prioritise the league trip to St James' Park.
ALSO READ: Man City dressing room doubts over Arsenal credentials set up fascinating subplot to title showdown
ALSO READ: 'Far from our best' - Why Man City look so undercooked going into Arsenal showdown
Guardiola also said he would prefer to field two completely different sides against Arsenal and Watford - which is possible in theory - but fitness and injuries may lead the manager to call upon some academy players to boost his squad. He has promoted Nico O'Reilly to his senior squad this season, and was able to play a number of youngsters in pre-season.
However, the schedule was complicated further by the under-21s travelling to Lincoln City in the EFL Trophy on the same night as the Watford tie for a game they will need to win to keep qualification for the knockout stages in their own hands. While the first team have priority over players, losing the best talents for the Trophy game would have weakened the academy too.
So Guardiola has been given a boost after City asked Lincoln and the EFL to cancel that particular tie this week, easing the pressures on the academy and freeing up any youngsters to help the first team if needed. City declined to confirm the exact reason for their request to move the Lincoln game, which will now take place in November.
Head coach Ben Wilkinson told MEN Sport: "We'll probably have one day before playing Manchester United to try and give the lads an idea of what that will look like. The first team have got a massive game against Arsenal on Sunday. Everyone will probably take stock after that and go from there."