Manchester City’s players took time out from their preparations for their first US Tour match against Manchester United by fashioning a novel way to sharpen up their keepy-uppy skills in Houston.

Five of Pep Guardiola’s squad took part in a special challenge that the City party have christened The Floor is Lava.

Fernandinho, John Stones, Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Ukrainian youngster Oleksandr Zinchenko all traded a succession of passes, headers and chest touches as they sought to prevent the ball hitting the floor as they exchanged possession.

And as our exclusive video from Houston’s NRG Stadium proves, it’s far from easy – but the City players gamely stuck to their task – despite some gentle ribbing from their team-mates as the ball pinged about the Houston skyline.

See how City fared in proving the Floor is Lava in our video above.