Pep Guardiola admits three-goal Jack Grealish 'struggled this season' as Man City boss addresses competition for left wing spot with Jeremy Doku

Fitness problems, including a dead leg and groin complaint, did hold Grealish back at times. He was, however, unable to produce his best on a regular basis and often found himself stuck among the substitutes as a result.

After handing Grealish just 20 Premier League starts, with the direct running and quick feet of Belgian star Jeremy Doku providing an exciting alternative on the left flank, Guardiola told reporters when assessing the 2023-24 campaign for a forward who has made England’s preliminary squad for Euro 2024: “He will be back. He’s struggled this season. Jeremy has made an incredible step forward as everyone has seen in the last games. But Jack will be back at the level of last season – I’m pretty sure.”

Grealish has been linked with a move elsewhere, with a reunion with England team-mate Harry Kane at Bayern Munich mooted. Guardiola concedes that there will be movement at the Etihad Stadium during the summer transfer window, adding: “My sporting director [Txiki Begiristain] says everything is fine for next year but right now I don’t know what might happen. I know some players have to make a decision on whether they stay with us, some players might come.”

City have rewritten the history books by claiming four successive Premier League titles, but their defence of the Champions League crown ended at the quarter-final stage and they suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat to arch-rivals Manchester United in the 2024 FA Cup final.