Manchester City have been bit my more injury woes ahead of their Premier League game with Brighton
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WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: John Stones of Manchester City prepares for a corner with Ruben Dias, Ederson and Josko Gvardiol during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Manchester City FC at Molineux on October 20, 2024 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images)
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: John Stones of Manchester City prepares for a corner with Ruben Dias, Ederson and Josko Gvardiol during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Manchester City FC at Molineux on October 20, 2024 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Ederson is injured again
Ederson was not in the Manchester City squad to face Brighton and Hove Albion as their injury problems continue. The goalkeeper has had an up-and-down year and appeared to have an issue in the first half at Nottingham Forest last week.
He played on and made a terrific save to keep the game goalless, but was then culpable as Callum Hudson-Odoi's effort squirmed through him at the near post. That turned out to be the only goal of the game as Pep Guardiola's side suffered a ninth defeat of the campaign to dent their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next season.
Ederson has been described as not fully fit for the Brighton game, and is not expected to join up with the Brazil squad for their fixtures over the next fortnight either. Stefan Ortega starts in goal, with veteran Scott Carson on the bench; young goalkeeper Spike Brits also arrived with the squad.
Matheus Nunes is fit to make the squad after coming off injured in the game at Forest. He was replaced by Rico Lewis and the England youngster keeps his place in Guardiola's side, with Nunes on the bench.
City's manager made a strong defence of Lewis for his performances this season when asked ahead of the game.
"Since the pre-season, he has been always available with no injuries," he said. "I admire the players that live 24 hours to be fit, to be ready.
"And he has done it since the pre-season. And played a lot of minutes, he deserved it. And now, of course, for the absence of our ex-captain here he can have more minutes and give us something really, really good in when to play.
"He's so young. People forget how young he is. And it's a big success that he's in the national team with the under-21s. The future of every single player depends on them."