Pep Guardiola can go two ways with his team selection this week as League Two side Salford visit the Etihad Stadium in the FA Cup.

Regardless of City's shaky form, they are expected to navigate a home tie against a side 65 places below them. Guardiola could treat the fixture as an opportunity to build on seven points from the last three games and generate some much needed momentum and rhythm after a rare week on the training pitch.

Or he could opt to rest some key players ahead of a run of tricky away games at Brentford, Ipswich, Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal in the following six games - plus important home fixtures with Chelsea and Club Brugge in that same period.

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These are the selection decisions Guardiola must deliberate ahead of the visit of Salford.

McAtee's time to shine

James McAtee made an impact off the bench at Leicester and was the first substitute against West Ham, lining him up for a long-awaited start in the FA Cup. He started both Carabao Cup fixtures earlier in the season and as speculation continues around his future this month he would benefit from a standout performance over 90 minutes.

He may not be trusted, or ready, to start Premier League games, so these opportunities are ideal for a fringe player of his quality to remind Guardiola what he can do when given a chance.

An attacking midfield role also gives Guardiola a chance to rest Kevin De Bruyne, or continue to get Phil Foden back into form.

Two debuts on offer

Guardiola welcomed six academy players to training earlier this week and all of them should be in contention to feature. Players like Nico O'Reilly, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and Jacob Wright will hope to start given their minutes already this season, although Wright may have to settle for a place on the bench if O'Reilly and McAtee are already starting.

Also pictured training was central defender Max Alleyne - the youngster who has been close to a debut before but never got onto the pitch. Last season at Red Star in the Champions League, Guardiola apologised to Alleyne for not bringing him on in the game where Micah Hamilton and Mahamadou Susoho made their debuts because Red Star had mounted a late comeback.

Alleyne was with the City squad in Saudi Arabia for the 2023 Club World Cup, and this season, Guardiola also bemoaned England's use of Alleyne in the under-21s for getting him injured and restricting City's use of him in training. He featured for Guardiola in pre-season and a competitive debut feels overdue after two years around the senior set-up.

What to do with Haaland?

A second debut could go to £2m summer signing Divin Mubama, whose arrival went under the radar and injury kept him sidelined until recently. Mubama, who has a handful of senior appearances for West Ham, has been on the bench in recent games and could be a forward option if Guardiola wants to rest Erling Haaland.

There is an argument to play Haaland and help wrap up the tie early on, or he could be rested completely like in the Carabao Cup tie vs Watford when he was granted compassionate leave in the only game he hasn't featured in this term.

McAtee or Foden could be more likely to lead the line if Haaland is rested, with Mubama an option off the bench.

Forgotten man returns?

Josh Wilson-Esbrand is a first team player these days, recovering from a summer injury that prevented a loan move away. The injury crisis might stop another loan move this month (although City won't stand in his way if a good offer comes in), so the FA Cup may be his only route to playing meaningful games this season.

Josko Gvardiol could do with a rest, as could Nathan Ake, and Wilson-Esbrand was solid enough on tour in the summer. Having been out on loan in the Championship, League Two opposition won't faze him and a surprise recall for the first time in 26 months could help the stretched defence on Saturday.

Out-of-form players must make their point

Kyle Walker hasn't started a game that City have won since that Watford game and his poor individual form has not gone unnoticed by supporters. Rico Lewis has been overused due to injuries and Walker's struggles, so the captain should be given a chance to play his way back into form while helping a youthful side through a cup tie.

Similarly, Ilkay Gundogan's form has suffered as a result of playing too many games. If he is tasked with helping O'Reilly and McAtee through the midfield battle his experience could be invaluable - or could Matheus Nunes get a run-out in the middle after his nightmare derby performance.

Jack Grealish has been challenged to improve and match Savinho's output on the wing, while Jeremy Doku will hear the same challenge and feel like he must respond, too. With difficult fixtures approaching, Salford is an opportunity for a number of young players to make a point and some under-pressure senior men to respond to Guardiola's public comments.