Manchester City will be desperate to turn their fortunes around when they take on Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola’s charges have won just one of their last 11 games in all competitions going into the Villa Park encounter.
Manchester City have lost ground in the Premier League title race, risk Champions League elimination, and have exited the Carabao Cup.
TBR Football looks at who Guardiola could pick in his starting XI for the trip to Birmingham.
Matheus Nunes of Manchester City controls the ball during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Manchester United FC at Etihad St...
Photo by Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty Images
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Man City team news v Aston Villa
Ruben Dias is unavailable for the game after suffering a muscle injury that could see him miss a month of action.
John Stones and Manuel Akanji are back in training but it remains to be seen if they are fit to feature.
Rico Lewis is back from suspension, while Nathan Ake, Oscar Bobb and Rodri are long-term absentees.
Ederson tipped to stay in XI as Matheus Nunes likely to drop out
Although there’s a good shout for Stefan Ortega to replace Ederson after his poor derby display, the City boss is likely to keep faith with the Brazilian in the league.
The City defence is set for an enforced change, with Dias out.
John Stones could replace him, while Lewis could come in for Matheus Nunes after the £53million man struggled last time out.
Mateo Kovacic, who returned off the bench against Man United, is likely to start and provide some much-needed defensive cover in the engine room.
Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden could keep their places as part of a midfield three, while Erling Haaland should lead the line, flanked by Savinho and Jeremy Doku.
This would see Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva drop to the bench.
Manchester City predicted starting XI v Aston Villa
Man City predicted XI v Aston Villa: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Gvardiol, Lewis; Kovacic, De Bruyne, Foden; Savinho, Haaland, Doku
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