Erling Haaland is expected to return to Manchester City's starting lineup for the Premier League match against Aston Villa this weekend. Manager Enzo Maresca confirmed the striker is fully available, making him the only player guaranteed to start.
City were in Champions League action against AEK Athens on Wednesday, a match that allowed Maresca to rest several regular starters. Haaland, who was spotted limping after the win over Ipswich last weekend, and Marc Guehi were both given a rest, while other squad members missed out due to injury.
Late fitness tests for key midfielders
Nico O'Reilly, Matheus Nunes and Mateo Kovacic all played no part against AEK Athens as they recover from knocks picked up against Ipswich. Speaking at his press conference on Thursday, Maresca said all three were facing late fitness tests.
"Erling is the only one 100 per cent available," he explained, before adding of Nunes, Kovacic and O'Reilly: "We have a session this afternoon. They can be all available or not. Yesterday they were all improving, and we'll see this afternoon."
Predicted lineup and team news
Josko Gvardiol started against AEK Athens in O'Reilly's absence and should keep his place at left-back, with Maresca playing down a knock the Croatian appeared to pick up late in that match. With Nunes potentially still injured, Rayan Ait-Nouri could be in line for a rare start on the right of defence.
Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez will continue to hold down the base of midfield. In the front four, Phil Foden may keep his place in the No10 role after his Wednesday night hat-trick, though Rayan Cherki is also due to come back into the side. Cherki could slot into the centre, pushing Foden out left with Iliman Ndiaye taking up the opposite wing.
Antoine Semenyo will be sidelined for around eight weeks with a knee injury suffered against Ipswich.
Predicted Man City XI vs Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Ait-Nouri, Dias, Guehi, Gvardiol; Fernandez, Anderson; Foden, Cherki, Ndiaye; Haaland. Doubts: O'Reilly, Nunes, Kovacic. Injured: Semenyo.
The match takes place at 12.30pm BST on Saturday October 24, 2026, at Villa Park, and will be broadcast on TNT Sports.
