Manchester City take on Newcastle United later today at St. James Park in a crucial Premier League fixture for both teams. Pep Guardiola’s side has only lost once in their past fourteen matches and will be eager to continue their impressive form today. They’ll face a tough test against Eddie Howe’s side who are a better team than their 14th place on the Premier League table suggests. Here is the latest City injury news and my predicted City starting eleven ahead of today’s match.
Manchester City will only be without two players for today’s match.
Pep Guardiola revealed on Friday that Mateo Kovacic and Rodri will miss today’s match due to injury. That news wasn’t a major surprise given that Kovacic will be out for several months after having surgery on a troublesome heel issue. Rodri continues to work his way back to full fitness and Manchester City are taking no risks with the Ballon d’Or winner’s fitness.
Manchester City vs Newcastle: Predicted City starting eleven and latest City injury news
Outside of Rodri and Mateo Kovacic Pep Guardiola has a full squad to choose from. After a busy international period for the City squad that is good news for them ahead of the grind that lies ahead starting today at St. James Park.
Predicted City starting eleven.
Gianluigi Donnarumma: Donnarumma has made the number-one goalkeeper position his own at City and he is certain to start today.
Matheus Nunes: The Portuguese international deserves to start today given his recent impressive form.
Ruben Dias: Manchester City’s defensive leader is back to his best and it would be a major surprise if he didn’t start against Newcastle.
Josko Gvardiol: Gvardiol hasn’t been at his best but he should start today. He has made some strange errors recently and will have to be at his best if he starts at St. James Park.
Nico O’Reilly: Fresh off winning his first caps for England Nico O’Reilly deserves to start at left-back today. In all honesty, left-back is Nico O’Reilly’s position to lose at the moment.
Nico: After having a period of rest over the international break Nico should start in midfield in a role that he has excelled in recently.
Bernardo Silva: Bernardo always starts the big games and I expect him to lead the way for his team today.
Phil Foden: Foden played well for England over the international break and he should start today and he will have a vital role to play in midfield for Manchester City today.
Rayan Cherki: It is a toss up between Cherki and Oscar Bobb to start on the right wing today but I’ll give the nod to Cherki. His ability to produce something magical could break open today’s match.
Jeremy Doku: Doku is a certain starter today in my opinion and he looms as a key player for his team and could break open today’s match.
Erling Haaland: The Norwegian international is in the form of his life and he will start today and looms over today’s match like he does in every match that he plays.