Pep Guardiola will face a slight reprieve from his defensive injury crisis thanks to a FA Cup rule change
Marc Guehi pointing at his wrist
Marc Guehi can thank a recent FA Cup rule for his ability to feature in the fourth round(Image: Getty Images)
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Marc Guehi will be eligible to feature for Manchester City in the FA Cup thanks to a recent rule change. City are preparing to face League Two outfit Salford City in the fourth round on Saturday.
England defender Guehi joined during the January transfer window after the 25-year-old sealed a £20million switch from Crystal Palace. Guehi has immediately fitted into the team and is available to face Salford City at the weekend, despite turning out for his previous club in the earlier round.
The centre-half skippered the Palace side that suffered a surprising elimination to Macclesfield last month. He would formerly have been ruled out from featuring in City's pursuit of FA Cup silverware.
However, a rule alteration was introduced before this season's FA Cup, effectively permitting players to turn out for multiple clubs, though not within the same round of the tournament.
The rulebook section states: "A Player shall only play for one Club in the Competition during the same Season, save that 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)."
This is good news for City, who have been missing John Stones and Josko Gvardiol in defence. Ruben Dias recently made a comeback as a substitute in the victory over Liverpool, stepping in for Abdukodir Khusanov, who was initially thought to have sustained a concussion.
The FA Cup rule alteration will be a welcome relief for manager Pep Guardiola, unlike the club's inability to field Guehi in the Carabao Cup. Unlike fellow new recruit Semenyo, the England star joined after the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final and was ineligible for the return match against Newcastle United.
City's plea for the rule to be amended ahead of the cup final with Arsenal was dismissed by the English Football League. However, Guehi can aid City's progress in the FA Cup.
Marc Guehi of Manchester City looks on during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City
Marc Guehi featured in Crystal Palace's shock loss to Macclesfield last month(Image: (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images))
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Guardiola's side cruised through the previous round with a commanding 10-1 victory over League One side Exeter City, with new signing Semenyo among those to find the net. Salford advanced with a 3-2 triumph over Swindon Town, following earlier victories against Lincoln City and Leyton Orient.
Man City being nearer to full strength represents a setback for Salford, who will be looking to pull off an improbable upset at the Etihad Stadium. Karl Robinson's team were last in action on Thursday, February 5, while City beat Fulham on Wednesday night.
"It is a testament to the players that they have managed to find their way through to this stage," Robinson said in January after Salford advanced to the fourth round. "We haven't had an easy run to this point.
"We've been in some very difficult games and every team we have played against has been in the league above us. Last season, we broke a club record by getting to the third round of the cup and missing out on the play-offs by a point or a goal. This year, we have progressed again by reaching the fourth round."
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