Manchester City restarted pre-season training last week with midfielder Jack Grealish among those who reported for duty.

Yet hopes of an early return in a City shirt faded on Tuesday when he was omitted from the squad traveling to Hong Kong and Seoul for the next 11 days.

Reports confirm Grealish remains in recovery from the foot injury that ended his campaign in January during his Everton loan where he had begun to regain form and it remains too soon to predict his next steps.

The issue also ended any chance of a World Cup appearance for England.

After falling out of favor under Pep Guardiola Grealish has returned to City with one year left on his deal and little indication of a new contract at his reported high wages.

The former Aston Villa captain turns 31 in September raising questions over whether new manager Enzo Maresca will restore him to the squad or permit a departure from the Etihad Stadium.

The Italian kept options open last week noting that Grealish remains a City player and stressing his duty to work with all squad members while highlighting their positive relationship.

Maresca may still have concerns after recent images showed Grealish drinking during the afternoon on two occasions in the past three months.

He featured prominently in the 2023 Treble celebrations but has rejected labels of being a party boy insisting he was simply enjoying success.

Further such images will not aid his prospects or attract interest from other clubs.

Grealish has not played competitive football since January while Kalvin Phillips also returns after a disappointing Championship loan at Sheffield United.

At 30 Phillips has seen his career decline sharply since arriving from Leeds in 2022 with minimal game time for City in recent seasons.

Exclusion from the tour suggests no path back for Phillips with the club willing to consider offers this summer.

City have taken a 28-player group featuring several unfamiliar faces for their friendlies while Erling Haaland and others rest after the World Cup.

Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma Phil Foden Josko Gvardiol and Antoine Semenyo add experience alongside emerging talents from the academy.

City open with a match against Inter Milan on Saturday then face the K-League All Stars and Atletico Madrid in Seoul.

As the club begins a new chapter in Asia Grealish will watch hoping his time at City is not drawing to a close.