"Ryan is a role model both on and off the field, " said former Liverpool and Aston Villa striker Saunders who played in Giggs' Wales debut in an otherwise forgettable 4-1 defeat to West Germany in Nuremburg in 1993.

BBC: Spot-on Giggs overtakes Charlton

With Jo, Benjani Mwaruwari and Valeri Bojinov also all missing, City could be forced to field teenagers Daniel Sturridge and Ched Evans in Saturday's Premier League opener against Aston Villa.

BBC: Man City fail in Santa Cruz bid

Villa looked more lively early in the second half but, after Stiliyan Petrov drifted a clever cross-field ball into the heart of Pompey's back-pedalling defence, Young - with time and space to spare - could only drag a low shot well wide.

BBC: Aston Villa 0-0 Portsmouth