Man City-Leicester confirmed XIs: Haaland replacement revealed as Pep makes six changes
Man City-Leicester confirmed XIs: Haaland replacement revealed as Pep makes six changes
Pep Guardiola has made a total of six changes to his Manchester City starting lineup for tonight's Premier League clash with Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium.
The Citizens are having to cope without top scorer Erling Haaland, who has been ruled out for five to seven weeks with an ankle injury sustained in Sunday's 2-1 comeback victory over Bournemouth in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Omar Marmoush scored the winner just three minutes after coming off the substitutes' bench to replace Haaland at the Vitality Stadium and the Egyptian January signing is set to lead the line for Man City.
Nico O'Reilly has been rewarded for his Man of the Match second-half display against Bournemouth with his first Premier League start and just third top-flight appearance of his senior career, while Nico Gonzalez, Savinho, Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish are also recalled.
Goalkeeper Ederson will be protected by a four-man backline of Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and O'Reilly. Abdukodir Khusanov has made way for the latter and has bene left out of City's matchday squad.
Gonzalez will link arms in midfield with Ilkat Gundogan and Jack Grealish is also set to operate in a central role as Savinho and Doku provide support from the flanks for Marmoush up top.
Manwhile, Oscar Bobb has made a welcome return to the senior matchday squad for the first time since fracturing a bone in his leg back in August last year.
More to follow.