Man Cityvs.Salford City

The Citizens are still coping without Rodri (ACL), Ruben Dias (muscle) and John Stones (ankle) due to injury, and Ederson (knock) is a doubt. Oscar Bobb, meanwhile, has made a welcome return to training after over four months out with a leg fracture, but this weekend's game may come too soon for the attacker.

Stefan Ortega has started City's last four games in goal, but he could be replaced between the sticks if Ederson is fit to return, or if Guardiola opts to hand a rare start to 39-year-old Scott Carson, who has only ever made two senior appearances for the Citizens since joining in 2020.

A number of academy starlets could be involved this weekend, including centre-back Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and left-back Josh Wilson-Esbrand who are both in contention to play in defence. Captain Kyle Walker will likely return to the starting lineup, while at least one of Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake or Josko Gvardiol may be given a rest.

In midfield, James McAtee, Nico O'Rielly and Jacob Wright all featured in the EFL Cup earlier this season and could be called upon to start against Salford, while Matheus Nunes and Ilkay Gundogan may also be recalled, with Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Mateo Kovacic and Savinho potentially rested.

Erling Haaland is another who may make way and 20-year-old striker Divin Mubama could subsequently be handed his Man City debut up front, after joining the club from West Ham in August. He most recently contributed to all three goals (two goals, one assists) as City's Under-21s beat Nottingham Forest in a Premier League 2 game last month.

Guardiola may instead decide to play either McAtee or Foden as a false nine, while out-of-form Jack Grealish will be looking to get back into the Man City manager's good books if he is handed a start on the left flank; fellow winger Jeremy Doku is also pushing for a recall.

Manchester City possible starting lineup: Ortega; Walker, Simpson-Pusey, Akanji, Wilson-Esbrand; O'Reilly, Gundogan; Doku, McAtee, Grealish; Mubama

Written by

Oliver Thomas