Manchester City have missed winger Jeremy Doku for the opening month of the 2026/27 season owing to a calf injury.
Jeremy Doku is expected to return to action for Manchester City.
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Doku went off at half-time in Manchester City's 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in August's Community Shield and has since missed the Blues' perfect start to life under Enzo Maresca.
City have won six on the bounce across three competitions to turn a corner since they met with the Premier League champions in Cardiff, with Hugo Viana's late transfer window acquisitions quickly adapting to life at the Etihad Stadium.
Enzo Fernandez, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Iliman Ndiaye and Allan Elias have all caught the eye in their opening weeks in Manchester as City navigate their first season following the summer departure of legendary manager Pep Guardiola.
The Blues qualified for the Carabao Cup fourth round after a 5-0 thrashing of Norwich City at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday night in a game that allowed Maresca to shuffle his pack ahead of Sunday's visit of Sunderland.
City academy graduates Floyd Samba and Ryan McAidoo scored thrice between them, with Allan grabbing a goal and an assist on his debut in sky blue since joining from Palmeiras for €40 million.
Maresca and co have coped well with the absence of Doku in attack since mid-August as Antoine Semenyo shifted to the left and allowed the likes of Phil Foden, Rayan Cherki and Ndiaye to impress.
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has handed an update on Jeremy Doku's fitness ahead of Thursday night's Carabao Cup third round tie against Norwich City.cityxtra.co.ukEnzo Maresca Press Conference: Jeremy Doku Injury Update Ahead of Carabao Cup Third Round Tie
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has handed an update on Jeremy Doku's fitness ahead of Thursday night's Carabao Cup third round tie against Norwich City.
However, City need Doku back sooner rather than later because the Belgium international provides a star quality that is lacking elsewhere in the attacking roster.
The 24-year-old is coming off the back of his best season in a Manchester City shirt, having scored eight times and provided 14 assists in 47 appearances in all competitions under Guardiola last term.
Maresca Hands Doku Fitness Update for Sunderland
Speaking in a press conference after Thursday's 5-0 win over Norwich City, Maresca issued an update on Doku's availability for Sunday's Premier League meeting with Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium.
The Manchester City manager said that Doku could 'probably' be available against the north-east outfit, albeit not ruling out a return for the forward on Sunday.
It remains to be seen whether Doku makes the matchday squad this weekend, with Maresca unlikely to bring the attacker back into the frame until he is fully recovered and ready to get a run of games under his belt.
Doku has had his fair share of issues with muscle injuries since joining Manchester City from Rennes in 2023 - and the Belgian will be desperate to kick on and forego his fitness woes under a new manager.