Enzo Maresca has confirmed a key return ahead of derby day at Old Trafford.
Manchester City will have Nico O’Reilly available again for Sunday’s short trip to face Manchester United in the Premier League, though Jeremy Doku is still out.
O’Reilly had been set to start City’s 1-0 win over newly-promoted Coventry at the Etihad Stadium last weekend, but pulled out late after suffering a back injury in the warm-up.
He was replaced by new £125million signing Enzo Fernandez, who was handed an unexpected debut in central midfield alongside fellow £116m arrival Elliot Anderson.
O’Reilly was also absent on Tuesday as Man City began their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 win over Porto in Portugal, but the problem was not considered serious and he had been expected to return to contention for the Manchester derby at Old Trafford.
Manager Enzo Maresca has now confirmed that to be the case, although star winger Doku remains unavailable because of the calf injury he suffered during the heavy Community Shield defeat to title rivals Arsenal in Cardiff last month.
“Nico is 100 per cent available but Jeremy, I think he needs some more days,” the former Chelsea boss said at his pre-match press conference on Friday.
Doku could be back when City host Championship side Norwich in the third round of the Carabao Cup next Thursday. That match will be followed by a home game against Sunderland before the start of an extended three-week international break, after which Maresca’s team take on Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain in successive fixtures.
Nico O’Reilly has recovered from the back injury he picked up in the warm-up against Coventry.
Gianluigi Donnarumma is expected to start in goal for City as usual in the derby, with Ruben Dias and Marc Guehi likely to continue their partnership at centre-back and Josko Gvardiol set to keep his place at left-back.
Matheus Nunes made his first start of the season against Porto in midweek after an ankle injury and could retain his place on the right side of defence, ahead of Abdukodir Khusanov.
Maresca must now decide whether to stick with the costly midfield pairing of Fernandez and Anderson or bring back the fit-again O’Reilly, whose versatility means he can operate in several positions across the pitch.
Erling Haaland will lead the line, with Rayan Cherki playing just behind him and Antoine Semenyo on the left. Phil Foden came in for new signing Iliman Ndiaye against Porto and could get the nod again on the right wing, especially given his impressive record against United, which currently stands at seven goals.
Injured: Doku
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