REUTERS/Isabel Infantes
Enzo Maresca has shared an injury update on his squad ahead of the big weekend clash between Man Utd and Man City in the Premier League.
City have claimed four consecutive wins in all competitions so far in this campaign, defeating Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, and Coventry City in the Premier League, while they claimed a big win over FC Porto in their opening Champions League game in midweek.
But the Cityzens have been dealing with a number of injury issues so far, and the manager has now confirmed that at least one star will be absent for the Manchester derby at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon, Maresca addressed the fitness of both defender Nico O'Reilly and winger Jeremy Doku, revealing that the Belgian is unlikely to be available for the game.
"Nico [O'Reilly] is 100% available, and Jeremy [Doku] needs some more days."
O'Reilly was in line to start during the win over Coventry last weekend but suffered a back injury during the warm-up and withdrew from the side, with Enzo Fernandez taking his place in midfield.
Doku, meanwhile, picked up a calf injury during the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal back in August, and while he is closing in on a return, this game is likely to come too soon for him.
With Doku sidelined, summer signing Iliman Ndiaye will be pushing for a start in his first Manchester derby, while Phil Foden, Rayan Cherki, Antoine Semenyo, and youngster Ryan McAidoo are also keen to get the nod in attack.
O'Reilly's return will spark a dilemma for the manager, with the England international having been playing in midfield so far this season, but Maresca has Elliot Anderson, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Enzo Fernandez and more to choose from in that role now.
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Man City Injuries
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Nico O'Reilly
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Maresca: Foden and Fernandez Pushing to Start
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With Doku the only absentee from the City squad for the trip to Old Trafford, Maresca will have some big decisions to make on his starting lineup for the game.
One star pushing for a start is £125m man Fernandez, who joined from Chelsea on deadline day, and has registered an assist already for Erling Haaland during the 2-0 win over Porto in midweek. Speaking about his qualities, Maresca claimed that he is constantly improving, and has suggested he could get the nod.
"He's improving a lot. Probably in the last two years, he has become an attacking midfielder. In and around the box, and in terms of leadership, he is growing a lot. You can see how the teammates speak about him and the winning mentality. He is working hard, polite, he is what we need.
Foden, meanwhile, has got an excellent record in Manchester derbies having come through the academy at Man City, scoring 7 times in 13 Premier League appearances against them, and Maresca believes that his connection to the club is a big reason behind his performances.