City’s international players have completed their September and October programmes and attention can finally turn back towards club football.
Erling Haaland finished as City’s leading scorer during the break with three goals for Norway, while Iliman Ndiaye also found the net for Senegal and Rayan Cherki contributed an assist for France.
Elliot Anderson and Marc Guehi were among the busiest members of Enzo Maresca’s squad, starting all four of England’s Nations League matches, while Ruben Dias also accumulated a significant workload with Portugal.
There were fitness concerns along the way for Nico O’Reilly and Antoine Semenyo, who both returned to Man City before completing their international schedules.
Here is the final City international tracker from the September and October break.
Last updated: 7 October 2026
Haaland scores three as Dias completes Portugal programme
Haaland started all four of Norway’s Nations League matches and finished the break with three goals.
The City striker scored twice in the opening 3-2 victory against Denmark before finding the net again in the 2-1 defeat against Portugal. He then featured in the defeat against Wales before his final appearance came against Portugal in Porto.
Haaland asked to be substituted after 67 minutes of the latter game and initially appeared to be limping, but Norway manager Stale Solbakken subsequently indicated tiredness rather than injury was behind his withdrawal.
| Date | Fixture | City involvement |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Sep | Norway 3-2 Denmark | Haaland 90 mins, 2 goals |
| 27 Sep | Norway 1-2 Portugal | Haaland 90 mins, 1 goal |
| 1 Oct | Wales 2-1 Norway | Haaland involved |
| 4 Oct | Portugal 2-1 Norway | Haaland 67 mins |
Dias was on the opposite side for both meetings between Portugal and Norway and remained an important part of his country’s defence throughout the programme.
He played the full 90 minutes of Portugal’s 4-2 victory over Denmark and completed another full game as they beat Norway in Porto.
Anderson and Guehi ever-present for England
Anderson and Guehi started all four of England’s Nations League matches during the break.
Both were in the side for the opening defeat against Spain and victory over Czechia before helping Thomas Tuchel’s team produce a remarkable 7-0 win against Croatia.
Anderson played 79 minutes against Croatia, while Guehi completed the full match.
Both retained their places for Tuesday’s 3-0 victory over Czechia at Wembley. Anderson played an excellent ball to Morgan Rogers during the move that led to Harry Kane’s goal before he and Guehi were substituted shortly after the hour.
It meant the City pair were among the most consistently selected players in Tuchel’s squad across the four-match programme.
O’Reilly’s break was considerably shorter. He started against Spain but subsequently withdrew from the squad through injury and returned to City.
Lewis was later promoted from England Under-21s into the senior squad after O’Reilly’s withdrawal. He was an unused substitute against Czechia at Wembley.
Gvardiol and Kovacic complete Croatia duty
Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic were both involved during Croatia’s Nations League programme.
Their schedule included the meeting with England in Zagreb, when the two City players found themselves up against club team-mates Anderson and Guehi.
England’s 7-0 victory made it a difficult evening for Croatia, but the international programme nevertheless provided further minutes for Gvardiol and Kovacic before their return to Manchester.
For Maresca, the priority will now be assessing the condition and workload of both players before Sunday’s visit to Anfield.
Donnarumma and Cherki finish Nations League campaigns
Gianluigi Donnarumma and Cherki were among City’s other European internationals during the break.
Donnarumma featured for Italy during their Nations League programme, while Cherki produced an attacking return for France.
The City playmaker set up Michael Olise’s late winner against Belgium, adding another assist to an impressive start to the season for club and country.
Donnarumma and Cherki subsequently came up against each other when France and Italy drew 1-1, with both now returning to Manchester ahead of the resumption of the Premier League.
Ndiaye ends break with Senegal winner
Ndiaye provided another City goal during the international window. The forward scored the winner as Senegal beat Comoros 1-0 in Marseille, arriving inside the six-yard box to convert from close range.
It was an encouraging way for City’s summer signing to finish his international programme before returning to Manchester. Ayyoub Bouaddi was also away with Morocco and gained further senior international experience during the break.
Fernandez, Rulli and City’s remaining internationals
Enzo Fernandez and Geronimo Rulli were part of Argentina’s international programme, while Abdukodir Khusanov featured for Uzbekistan.
Khusanov played 85 minutes of Uzbekistan’s 4-1 victory over Syria and left the field with his side yet to concede. Syria’s goal arrived after the City defender had been substituted.
Rayan Ait-Nouri was away with Algeria, while Vitor Reis was part of Brazil’s senior set-up.
City’s international contingent was therefore spread across Europe, Africa, South America and Asia during a busy first break of the season.
Semenyo and O’Reilly return early
The two clearest fitness concerns to emerge were Semenyo and O’Reilly.
Semenyo withdrew from Ghana duty with a swollen leg and returned to City without completing the international programme, while O’Reilly’s England involvement ended after his start against Spain. Maresca will now have the opportunity to assess both players as the squad comes back together at the City Football Academy.
Haaland’s workload will also be monitored after four Norway appearances, although the explanation surrounding his withdrawal against Portugal eased the immediate concern over the striker.
Man City attention turns to Liverpool
The international break can now be put to one side. Haaland returns with three goals, Ndiaye with another and Anderson and Guehi having established themselves as regular starters for England during a demanding four-match programme.
Several other members of Maresca’s squad also accumulated significant international minutes, while the condition of Semenyo and O’Reilly will be watched as preparations resume in Manchester. The focus now switches fully to club football and Sunday’s Premier League trip to Liverpool.
