Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca expecting tough assignment against Sunderland

The Italian has made a strong start in the Etihad Stadium hotseat, winning six successive matches in all competitions since defeat in the Community Shield.

One of those wins was a contentious and hard-fought victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford last week, but he sees Sunday’s visit of the Wearsiders as a different challenge.

Maresca said: “I have the feeling that the Sunderland game will be the toughest game since we started the season.

“I’ve watched three or four of their games in the last few days and I watched the game live against Arsenal.

“I think, personally, they didn’t deserve to lose that game.

“You can see how strong they are. They are very well coached by their manager and they have already had time together, so you can see what they want to do on and off the ball.

“I feel that on Sunday we’ll need a top performance to beat them. We’ll need to be 100 per cent to win the game.”

Maresca feels his side is showing steady improvement, but has no fixed idea of how long it will take before they are truly playing the way he wants.

He said: “There is always room to improve, but (I don’t know) in terms of time or percentage, it’s day by day.

“Now we can prepare for Sunderland and that is the only thing that I have in my mind.”

Maresca rested most of his first team, making 10 changes, for Thursday’s 5-0 thrashing of Sky Bet Championship side Norwich in the Carabao Cup.

While the likes of Erling Haaland, Enzo Fernandez and Gianluigi Donnarumma will return this weekend, some of those who featured in midweek also made a strong case for further opportunities.

Teenager Floyd Samba particularly took his chance to shine, scoring twice as he filled in for Haaland up front.

The 17-year-old will hope for further recognition from Maresca, who promoted him to the first-team squad over the summer, but he also faces a decision over his international future.

The Macclesfield-born academy graduate, the son of former Blackburn defender Christopher Samba, has been called up by England during his youth as well as by France and Germany, for whom he qualifies through his father and mother respectively.

He could even have a fourth option due to the grandparents rule and play, like his father, for Congo.

Asked where his allegiance lies, he said: “All three right now. I haven’t chosen. I haven’t stuck to one yet, but we’ll see in the future.

“I think the opportunity will come somewhere, so I’ll just have to wait for that.”