Ruben Amorim is preparing for his very first Manchester derby.
Ruben Amorim is preparing for his very first Manchester derby.
Manchester United might only be missing one player for the Manchester derby compared to the six Manchester City are set to be absent at the Etihad Stadium - with one or two more doubts for that showdown.
England international Luke Shaw won't be available for United, having suffered a setback earlier this month after returning from a calf injury which had kept him out since the summer. The left-back made his first appearance this season as a replacement for Jonny Evans in Ruben Amorim's first match in charge at Ipswich.
Centre-back Evans has been unavailable since starting that game, but returned to training with the squad earlier this week. However, that comeback came too soon to feature in the Europa League against Viktoria Plzen.
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A late fitness check will most-likely determine whether or not Evans is ready to return this weekend. However, there is little doubt about who City will have available.
Pep Guardiola has conceded that Manuel Akanji "can't play" due to discomfort and that Nathan Ake, who has a thigh injury, will be out even longer. Guardiola also acknowledged that Kevin De Bruyne is "coming back step by step" after only recently returning from a two-month injury lay-off.
John Stones is absent, though, with plantar fasciitis, which causes heel pain. Oscar Bobb is another player who is still out after suffering a fractured leg before the season even started. Rodri remains City's longest-term absentee after having knee surgery in September after rupturing the ACL in his right knee.
Mateo Kovacic and Phil Foden did return to the squad for City's midweek Champions League match away against Juventus, so they are assumed to be available again for the derby. One player who did feature in Turin but will not be is Rico Lewis - as he serves a one-match suspension after being sent-off last time out in the Premier League for City against Crystal Palace.