Enzo Maresca Issues Injury Update on Iliman Ndiaye and Matheus Nunes After Aston Villa Defeat
Manchester City are expecting to welcome Matheus Nunes back to the fold this week with a double-header against Brighton and Hove Albion on the agenda across competitions.
Iliman Ndiaye was taken off despite providing an assist against Aston Villa last week.
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The Blues saw their perfect start to the 2026-27 Premier League season come to an end on Saturday at the hands of familiar foe Unai Emery and co.
Emery and Aston Villa had Manchester City's number for years under Pep Guardiola and the Villains were at their sumptuous best against Maresca and co as Nicolas Jackson's prolific brace secured a vital three points for the west Midlands outfit.
City were a country mile away from their flowing best, with Marc Guehi committing yet another error leading directly to goal and Jackson sitting down Elliot Anderson and smashing the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma in the roof of the net to give his side the lead just after five minutes.
The visitors went into the interval a goal behind but found a leveller shortly after half-time as Erling Haaland powered in a resounding header from Iliman Ndiaye's cross.
However, City were the architects of their own downfall as Jackson again found the net with a finish that went in from under Donnarumma's legs that many would argue the Italy international should have dealt with.
Ryan McAidoo was thrown on with over 20 minutes left on the clock to help Manchester City break down a resilient Villa backline but the Blues just did not purr like usual and left Villa Park with nothing to show for a valiant second-half effort.
Why were Iliman Ndiaye and Rayan Cherki withdrawn against Aston Villa?
in during his post-match press conference at Villa Park on Saturday afternoon, Maresca was quizzed on the reasoning behind Ndiaye's substitution against Aston Villa, particularly given the strength of the Senegal international's performance.
With McAidoo coming on in Ndiaye's place, Maresca confirmed to reporters that the Manchester City summer signing was simply withdrawn due to "cramp and was tired".
Earlier in the contest, Rayan Cherki was also withdrawn alongside Marc Guehi at the half-time interval as Enzo Maresca and City chased a recovery from a 1-0 deficit at the break at Villa Park.
"It's not [just] Rayan. The last game I changed him at half-time, I changed him, Ruben Dias, and one more, I don't remember, against PSG. So it's not just Rayan," Maresca said.
"Today I changed Rayan, but I changed also Marc Guehi. It's just in that moment what I can see, where we can improve things, where we can change.
"But the main reason today for Marc and Rayan was also because both were on yellow cards. And with this stadium, sometimes the referee with the noise, they judge in different ways. So I prefer to change players."
What is the latest on Matheus Nunes' fitness?
Manchester City supporters are well-aware of the importance of Matheus Nunes to the club's operation, with the Portuguese international viewed as the first-choice in the right-back position but suffering a fresh injury problem during the 3-2 win over Ipswich.
Against Aston Villa, Enzo Maresca opted to start Abdukodir Khusanov in the right-back role and to varying success against a fierce Villa Park front-three.
Discussing the return of Matheus Nunes, Enzo Maresca told reporters after the contest against Aston Villa, "Matheus could be available for the next game [against Brighton & Hove Albion]."
City will be keen to return to winning ways against Brighton and Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup fourth round on Wednesday night before facing the Seagulls for the second time in four days in the Premier League on Saturday.