Manchester City were linked to Erling Haaland. They signed Julian Alvarez last week, but a striker closer at home is available to return.

Pep Guardiola, Manchester City’s forward, chose to face Fulham in round four of the FA Cup because of Jack Grealish’s freshly shorn hairline.

Grealish, fresh from the barber’s chairs – it is hard to keep up with Phil Foden nowadays. Grealish will be lining up alongside Riyad Mahrez, his England teammate, in the attacking trinket.

This is the most iconic of Guardiola’s City in this stage of development. Gabriel Jesus’ lingering resemblance with a traditional striker is not evident, as are Raheem Sterling’s endless runs in behind.

City youngster Tosin Adarabioyo and Fulham captain Tim Ream into areas they don’t want to be.

Although the freescoring Championship leaders won’t park the bus, Guardiola has a point of difference among substitutes if Guardiola’s preferred strategy of attack fails to bear fruit.

Nearly 18 months have passed since Liam Delap made his Premier League debut against Leicester City. Injury has claimed the life of Liam Delap, last season’s top scorer for EDS’ title-winning side.

Delap has one goal in four appearances for the second string in 2021/22 and has not featured competitively since October.

At the time that he got City fans excited, Julian Alvarez wasn’t a well-known figure in Manchester. Erling Haaland was only half a year into his Borussia Dortmund career.

Haaland this week, competition for places up front could be particularly fierce come August.