- Man City head into the Manchester derby with a long list of problems
- Rico Lewis' suspension only adds to defensive woes
- Mateo Kovacic and Phil Foden could feature
Manchester City have won just one of their previous ten games, yet there's a feeling that things may continue to get worse for Pep Guardiola's side before they improve.
The Cityzens have a litany of concerns exacerbated by key injuries in defence. The perennial Premier League champions are struggling mightily without the ball, surrendering high-quality chances at will, but they also look blunt in possession.
Overcoming the ongoing malaise is a task certainly not beyond Guardiola's genius, but the City boss is currently struggling to get a stranglehold on things. City are slumping, but form tends to go out of the window when derby day rolls around.
Sunday's visitors will once again be without key names as they take on Manchester United hoping to earn some respite and claim local bragging rights.
Here's the latest City injury news ahead of the Manchester derby.
Goalkeepers & Defenders
He's going to have to play Kyle Walker again, isn't he?
With Rico Lewis suspended following his harsh dismissal against Crystal Palace last weekend, Walker, who's enduring a torrid season, will surely line up on the right side of City's defence.
Guardiola's defensive options are in short supply with Nathan Ake, John Stones and Manuel Akanji all ruled out of Sunday's derby.
Stones and Ake are some way off making their respective returns yet, and while there was hope that Akanji would feature this weekend, Guardiola has shunned that possibility. "Manu has discomfort in the area for the pelvis, abductor," he said.
"Manu is a strong player and so reliable but in that moment he cannot be there."
Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol are both fit and available.
Midfielders
While Guardiola said there were no improvements on the injury front for his defenders, City should be boosted by the returns of Phil Foden and Mateo Kovacic this weekend.
Both players were unused substitutes on Wednesday night as City fell to a 2-0 defeat to Juventus.
After starring in 2023/24, Foden has been staggeringly unproductive so far this season. The City playmaker missed the games against Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace due to illness, but travelled to Turin in midweek and will be available on Sunday.
Kovacic hasn't played since the November international break and will surely earn minutes in the derby given Ilkay Gundogan's issues at the base of City's midfield.
Every Man City player out of Man Utd clash
Player | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|
Nathan Ake | Unspecified | Out |
Manuel Akanji | Abductor | Out |
Rico Lewis | Suspended | Out |
John Stones | Unspecified | Out |
Phil Foden | Illness | Available |
Mateo Kovacic | Unspecified | Available |
