Man Cityvs.Salford City

The 20-year-old striker, who joined the Citizens from West Ham United last summer, has previously watched on from the substitutes' bench for three first-team games in December clashes with Manchester United, Everton and Leicester City.

Mubama was most recently in action for Man City's Under-21s on December 16, contributing to all three goals (two goals, one assist) in a 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest in the Premier League 2.

Now, Guardiola has decided to name Mubama in his starting lineup for tonight's FA Cup tie with fourth-tier outfit Salford, with the Catalan coach making a total of nine changes to the side that beat West Ham United 4-1 in the Premier League last weekend.

Nathan Ake and in-form Savinho are the only two players to retain their starting spots, while Stefan Ortega, Mateo Kovacic, Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Josko Gvardiol, Manuel Akanji, Phil Foden and Rico Lewis all take their places on the substitutes' bench.

Goalkeeper Ederson has recovered from a knock that has kept his out of the last four games to start between the sticks, but it remains to be seen how Man City will shape up as Ake and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey are the only two natural defenders named in Guardiola's lineup.

Tonight's captain Ilkay Gundogan, Matheus Nunes, Nico O'Reilly and James McAtee have all been recalled to the first XI, as have Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish, who are set to link up with Savinho and Mubama in attack.

Salford, manager Karl Robinson has made two changes to the side that beat MK Dons 1-0 in League Two last time out, with veteran midfielder Matty Lund and 21-year-old on-loan striker Kylian Kouassi both returning to the first XI.

Ryan Watson and top scorer Cole Stockton have dropped down to the substitutes' bench, while Stephan Negru is not involved as he has returned to his parent club Oxford United following a loan spell.

Manchester City starting lineup: Ederson, Simpson-Pusey, Ake, Nunes, Gundogan, O'Reilly, McAtee, Doku, Grealish, Savinho, Mubama

Subs: Ortega, Kovacic, Haaland, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Gvardiol, Akanji, Foden, Lewis

Salford City starting lineup: Young, Shepherd, Garbutt, Tilt, Mnoga, Lund, Berkoe, Ashley, Fornah, Kouassi, Adelakun

Subs: Jones, Watson, Stockton, Taylor, Chester, McAlney, Malcolm, Heys, Wright

Written by

Oliver Thomas