Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini admits he will need all his forward options to deliver trophies as he prepares for his first taste of the Premier League against Newcastle on Monday.
Pellegrini, who replaced Roberto Mancini following the Italian’s dismissal at the end of last season’s trophy-less campaign, lost Carlos Tevez to Juventus in this transfer window, but has added Alvaro Negredo and Stevan Jovetic to his attacking options alongside Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko.
Now the Chilean faces his first striking dilemma on Monday as he debates who will start up front in his opening competitive match in charge at Eastlands.
Champions Manchester United threw down the gauntlet to City with a 4-1 win over Swansea in David Moyes’ first match on Saturday and Pellegrini can ill-afford a slow start to life in England.
City, who surrendered the title to United in tame fashion last season, have not lost an opening-day Premier League game since a defeat by Aston Villa in 2008 and Pellegrini’s frontmen will be expected to continue that run against Newcastle on Monday.
“I do not know my team yet because on Thursday all the players that played for their national squad arrived back. I am not 100 percent sure,” Pellegrini said.
“We have four important strikers, that is why they are here in this squad as we want them for the whole season.
“I do not worry who plays on Monday or next Sunday. We have four strikers because I think we need four strikers. We will see who is the best for each match.”
Matija Nastasic is City’s only injury problem ahead of the visit of Newcastle.
The defender picked up an ankle injury in July’s Asia Trophy in Hong Kong and was expected to be out for six weeks but while the 20-year-old Serb will miss the opening Premier League game, he could be in contention for next week’s trip to Cardiff.