The 19-year-old was given some time off in Brazil over the Christmas period but is not expected to take too much time getting up to speed with his new team-mates

Pep Guardiola has suggested Gabriel Jesus could make his Manchester City debut sooner rather than later.

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Jesus will arrive in Manchester in the early hours of Tuesday morning and will join up with his new team-mates later this week, having been allowed to finish the Brazilian season with Palmeiras after signing for City in the summer.

The 19-year-old forward spent a couple of days in Manchester at the start of December in a bid to get an idea of his new surroundings, but at the time Guardiola insisted he would be given at least two or three weeks off over the Christmas period, given he has played in a number of youth competitions and the Olympic Games on top of his club commitments in recent years.

But Guardiola does not expect Jesus to take too much time to get up to speed once he finally starts life as a City player.

"We’re going to see," the City boss said when asked when Jesus will be able to contribute.

"Of course he’s a young player. He was three years without holiday. He’s fit, young, he was just two or three weeks not training so I don’t think we’re going to need to spend too much time to get him fit."

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City travel to West Ham for an FA Cup third-round clash on Friday night, which could provide Guardiola with an opportunity to put Jesus in his squad for the first time.

The Blues then face Everton away and Tottenham at home in the Premier League, before a potential fourth-round FA Cup game at the end of January.