LINCOLN, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 12: Max Hudson of Manchester City U21 during the Bristol Street Motors Trophy match between Lincoln City and Manchester City U21 at LNER Stadium on November 12, 2024 in Lincoln, England. (Photo by Chris Vaughan/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 12: Max Hudson of Manchester City U21 during the Bristol Street Motors Trophy match between Lincoln City and Manchester City U21 at LNER Stadium on November 12, 2024 in Lincoln, England. (Photo by Chris Vaughan/Getty Images)
Manchester City's ongoing injury troubles have continued for the Champions League trip to Juventus, with goalkeeper Max Hudson the latest player to be called up from the academy.
City already travelled to Juventus with five players out, while the returning pair of Phil Foden and Mateo Kovacic are not fit to start. The 22-man squad who travelled to Italy also saw third-choice goalkeeper Scott Carson omitted and Hudson called up in his place.
Carson's absence is believed to be down to illness, and while it won't affect Guardiola's starting line up, it has caused a knock-on effect in the academy.
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Hudson, 17, is a Wales under-18 international, born in Wrexham and he joined City as an under-8 player. This is his first season for the under-18s at City, where he has made five appearances this season as well as one game for the under-21s against EFL opposition when he faced Lincoln in the EFL Trophy.
The teenager was not only included in the first team squad for the first time on Wednesday, but he also took part in the under-19s' UEFA Youth League clash vs Juventus earlier in the day having travelled to Italy with the academy rather than the first team.
He was on the bench in that game - a 1-1 draw which sealed City's place in the knockout stages - and then made his way back to the City team hotel in Turin, separate from the youth team, to link up with the senior squad.
Hudson was selected for the call-up due to UEFA regulations around who is eligible for matchday squads, with restrictions around 'club-trained' players compared to 'association-trained players' (which would include someone who has been trained at an academy in England but not at City).
Hudson is a 'club-trained player', so fit the bill to replace Carson despite not yet making an under-21 debut. Now he is set for a place in a Champions League squad away at Juventus while still making his way in the under-18s.
Guardiola must decide whether to recall Ederson to his starting line-up after three games where Stefan Ortega has started instead.
Elsewhere in the City squad, Hudson will be joined by academy teammates Nico O'Reilly, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, Jacob Wright and Josh Wilson-Esbrand, while Rico Lewis and James McAtee are also in the squad.