Pep Guardiola wants new signing Nico Gonzalez to step right into the Rodri-sized hole in the Manchester City team.

Gonzalez signed from Porto on the last day of the January transfer window for £50m, as the only midfield arrival. City did not want to sign a player that will just sit behind Rodri in the pecking order when the Spaniard is fit again, although Guardiola is not counting on a return this season.

City's manager talked up three different positions that Gonzalez can play in but admitted that initially he will be asked to take up the No.6 role. The club will attempt to shield the 23-year-old from the pressure of expectations for him to single-handedly and instantly fix the midfield, yet he will be taking on the position where they have lost the most control.

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"Right now, yeah. I didn't bring him to play more up front right now because up front we have much more players," said Guardiola. "Of course he can play there but mainly the decision is for him to play in front of the central defenders.

"I think he's ready but we will see in the next days how the training sessions are. The first impact is good yesterday and today, but I will not put pressure on his shoulders to solve all the problems that we have. He has just come to help us to be more stable."

A first start could come on Saturday at Leyton Orient, when City look to avoid a giantkilling in the FA Cup fourth round. The tie is City's last before they take on Real Madrid, where Guardiola will look to have many more players available.

As well as Gonzalez, there are three other signings and then five players - Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, Oscar Bobb, Jeremy Doku and Ederson - who are on the verge of returning from injury. Guardiola indicated that there would be some fresh faces at the Gaughan Group Stadium, although one of Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis will likely have to settle for the bench as the coach looks to avoid an enormous upset.

"We will see. I have an idea of the lineup," he said. "I have one or two doubts but it can happen. Maybe two at the same time is a little bit risk away with a team that has been doing well lately.

"It would be good [for injured players to return] but if they're not fit and we take a risk then maybe they get injured again. We have conversations with the physios and see. Some are easier to handle, others are more complicated."