Manchester City v Newcastle United: The latest team news ahead of Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg.
The Magpies lost 2-0 to Manchester City in the first leg at St James’ Park last month following goals from new signing Antoine Semenyo and substitute Rayan Cherki.
Semenyo’s goal came after the winger was cleared to play by a rule change introduced in the domestic cup competitions this season that allows players to play for two clubs across the same campaign. The winger played for Bournemouth in a 2-0 Carabao Cup second round defeat at home to Brentford back in August.
He went on to join City in January for £64million with the rule change allowing him to take part in the competition and play a key role in the 2-0 win at Newcastle
It gives The Magpies a mountain to climb in order to reach a third Carabao Cup final in four seasons, as they have never scored a goal at the Etihad Stadium in five attempts under Eddie Howe, losing all five matches.
For the start of the 2025/26 season, those rules changed to state: “A player that has played for one Club in the Qualifying Competition and/or the Competition Proper may play for a maximum of one other Club in the Competition Proper (but may only play for a maximum of one Club in any given round of the Competition).”
But there is one January signing who won’t be eligible to feature for Manchester City on Wednesday evening.
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EFL rules ban Man City new signing from playing against NUFC
Manchester City also completed the signing of Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace during the winter transfer window.
It came after Guehi was strongly linked with a move to Newcastle in August 2024 and also came close to joining Liverpool at the start of the season. But with his contract at Selhurst Park up in the summer, City swooped in to strike a cut-price £20million deal for the England international.
While the aforementioned rule change should allow Guehi to feature for Manchester City in the Carabao Cup as well as the FA Cup, despite playing for Palace in both competitions, there is an exception that will come into force on Wednesday night.
As Guehi was signed after the first leg match between Newcastle and Manchester City, he is ineligible to feature in the second leg.
EFL rules state: “A Registered Player shall be permitted to play for up to two clubs in the competition in any one season where such player moved to a different club on a permanent transfer prior to the closure of the Winter Transfer Window, or the first leg of the semi-final (whichever is sooner).”
As Guehi moved after the first-leg of the semi-final, he is ineligible to feature for Manchester City in the Carabao Cup this season.
Newcastle United team news v Manchester City
Newcastle have concerns over the fitness of Bruno Guimaraes, who missed the defeat at Liverpool due to an ankle injury. Lewis Miley and Sven Botman remained on the bench for the 4-1 loss due to respective knee and thigh problems.
Tino Livramento, Fabian Schar, Emil Krafth and Joelinton remain out.
The winners of the semi-final will face either Chelsea or Arsenal in the 2026 Carabao Cup final at Wembley Stadium on March 22. Newcastle are the holders of the competition after beating Liverpool 2-1 in the final last year.
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