However, the 26-year-old is now likely to be used more frequently with star man Rodri having been ruled out in the long term with a serious knee injury. While City are yet to confirm how long the Euro 2024 will spend on the sidelines, the expectation is that he will be absent for the remainder of the campaign.

Perhaps it was a sign of Guardiola’s all-pervasive influence as Watford tried to play out from the back, failed with Ryan Porteous under-hitting a pass back, James McAtee pinched the ball from goalkeeper Jonathan Bond and Doku put City ahead.