And, having secured most of the younger members of his squad on longer term deals, it is understood that Pearce is now targetting the more experienced men, with Reyna high on the list.

Although negotiations have yet to start in earnest, the City boss is keen to ensure Reyna stays beyond the end of his current three-year deal, which runs out in the summer.

The former Rangers and Sunderland midfielder will have a bit of time to talk now too after having a scan on the injury which forced him out of the action at Highbury last weekend.

Although the full extent of the damage has not yet been revealed, Blues boss Stuart Pearce does not expect Reyna to be available until the home game with Blackburn on November 19.

“Claudio has had a scan and it looks like it could be a few weeks,” Pearce told www.mcfc.co.uk

“We will get the full prognosis later this week but he is probably fortunate we took him off as soon as he did it rather than let him go back on.”

Reyna will definitely miss Monday’s visit of Aston Villa, although the City squad could be bolstered by the return of Ben Thatcher, and striking duo Robbie Fowler and Bradley Wright-Phillips, who are both pencilled in for a reserve-team outing against Stockport tomorrow.

Andy Cole and Nedum Onuoha, who missed the Arsenal defeat with thigh and groin injuries respectively, should also be available to face David O’Leary’s inconsistent side but Trevor Sinclair and Richard Dunne both remain sidelined.