Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has identified a trio of young players he has earmarked for inclusion in the first team squad this season.

City's pre-season trip to Australia has helped the Chilean work out which youth players he plans to work more closely with as the season proper unfolds.

THe Sky Blues played sister club Melbourne City in the Gold Coast last weekend before travelling to Melbourne for the International Champions Cup where they beat AS Roma 5-4 on penalties following a 2-2 draw on Tuesday ahead of Friday's clash with Real Madrid.

Talented Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho, Spanish midfielder Manu Garcia and English defender Cameron Humphreys are the players in question and according to Pellegrini, all three could be given chances in the upcoming campaign if they continue to impress in pre-season matches and training.

"It is very important to make the pre-season with our squad. After that they have different levels," said Pellegrini in Melbourne.

"We have two or three who have demonstrated they are an important part of the future of our squad.

"I'm talking about Kelechi, I'm talking about Manu Garcia, I'm talking about Cameron (Humphreys), the three of them are under 18.

"So we are working in Manchester with the young players. It's not easy bringing them into the first squad but the way continue working and the way they improve, they will have an important participation in our team."