Manchester City are about to be hit with a fitness problem ahead of the new season as three of their influential players were all sent home from training after suffering with a virus. All three missed the club’s annual awards ceremony, City Live, in an unwanted disruption to their build-up.

But as City’s first game, away at West Bromwich Albion, is not until Monday, they have five days to recover.

Sergio Aguero who won the Golden Boot after scoring 26 league goals last season, insisted he will not be sidelined for long. “Sorry I can’t be there,” he said in a video message. “I don’t feel well. I will be back soon.”

Manager Manuel Pellegrini has already said the Argentinian, who did not play a part in City’s preseason fixtures after he was granted time off following the Copa America, might not feature at the Hawthorns.

But midfielders Silva and Nasri, who had featured prominently in preseason, seemed to figure prominently in Pellegrini’s plans for the West Brom game.