Manchester City returned to pre-season training last week, with Jack Grealish among the players reporting back at the City Football Academy.
However, any hopes of the midfielder making an immediate return to first-team action were dampened on Tuesday when he was left out of City's squad for their 11-day pre-season tour of Hong Kong and Seoul.
Sources have indicated that the 30-year-old is still recovering from the foot injury that prematurely ended his loan spell at Everton in January. Grealish had begun to rediscover his best form at Goodison Park before the setback ruled him out for the remainder of the season and effectively ended any slim hopes of forcing his way into England's World Cup squad.
After appearing to fall out of favour under former manager Pep Guardiola, Grealish has returned to the Etihad Stadium with just one year remaining on his contract. There is little indication that Manchester City are prepared to extend the deal, which is reportedly worth £300,000 a week.
The former Aston Villa captain will turn 31 in September, leaving new head coach Enzo Maresca with a significant decision to make. The Italian must determine whether Grealish still has a role to play in City's rebuild or whether the club should sanction a transfer and bring an end to his four-year spell in Manchester.
For now, Maresca has refused to close the door.
"At the moment, he is here. He is a Manchester City player," Maresca said last week.
"I always say the same. At any club I join, I want to work with the players who belong to the club. It's my duty to coach them.
"Jack is here. I have a good relationship with him since I left. We still keep in touch because he has a big heart and he's a very good guy. We'll see what happens."
Despite those encouraging comments, Grealish's situation remains uncertain. Reports of him being photographed drinking during the off-season on two separate occasions in the past three months are unlikely to strengthen his position.
Grealish became the face of City's Treble celebrations in 2023 and later dismissed suggestions he was a "party boy," insisting he was simply enjoying one of the greatest achievements of his career. Nevertheless, repeated images of him socialising could do little to improve his standing or attract potential buyers.
The winger has not played a competitive match since the beginning of the year, leaving him with valuable ground to make up before he can re-establish himself.
Kalvin Phillips also finds himself at a crossroads after returning from an unsuccessful loan spell at Sheffield United.
Although still only 30, Phillips' Manchester City career has stalled dramatically since his move from Leeds United in 2022. Over the past two seasons, he has managed just seven minutes of EFL Cup football for the club and has also been omitted from the travelling squad, suggesting there is little prospect of reviving his City career. The club are understood to be open to offers this summer.
City have travelled to Asia with a youthful 28-man squad as Maresca begins his first pre-season in charge.
Several senior players, including Erling Haaland, new signing Elliot Anderson, Rayan Cherki and Nico O'Reilly, have remained in England following their World Cup commitments.
Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, Phil Foden, Josko Gvardiol and Antoine Semenyo provide the experience in a squad that also includes a number of academy prospects eager to impress.
City begin their tour against Serie A champions Inter Milan on Saturday before facing the K-League All Stars and Atlético Madrid in Seoul next week.
As Manchester City embark on a new era under Maresca, Grealish remains on the outside looking in, hoping his absence from the tour proves to be only a temporary setback rather than the beginning of the end of his time at the Etihad Stadium.
