Sergio Aguero is set to miss the start of the Premier League season, with Manchester City likely to be without four of their South American stars.
Martin Demichelis, Pablo Zabaleta, Aguero and Fernandinho have not been on City's preseason tour to Australia, having been given time off after the Copa America.
Manager Manuel Pellegrini has admitted they are unlikely to feature when City kick off their league campaign away to West Bromwich Albion on Aug. 10.
The Chilean believes it is vital his players have enough of a summer break, even though he may have few options for the start of the season.
New signing Fabian Delph could also be a doubt for the Albion game after injuring his hamstring in City's 4-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the International Champions Cup in Melbourne.
"I think in football it's so important to work hard, but also resting has the same importance," Pellegrini told reporters.
"You have so many games throughout the year that if you don't give them 30 days after they've finished their internationals, it's very difficult for them to work hard.
"It's more difficult for the South American players because Pablo Zabaleta, Martin Demichelis, Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho finished later, the first days of July, so they won't have 30 days.
"I think when we return to Manchester they will start their preseason. Maybe they will not be involved in the first game, but I am sure they will work hard and will be involved as soon as they can."
Aguero was the Premier League's 26-goal top scorer last season but he, Demichelis and Zabaleta played in Argentina's Copa America final defeat to Chile on July 4 while Fernandinho was in the Brazil team eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Bacary Sagna is likely to be handed the right-back role in Zabaleta's absence, while captain Vincent Kompany and Eliaquim Mangala could be paired in the centre of defence.
But City could be short of specialist strikers without Aguero, as Roma target Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic, wanted by Inter Milan, could leave, while the injured Wilfried Bony did not travel to Australia.
City's £49 million winger Raheem Sterling started as a striker against Barcelona and may be asked to fill that role again.