Erling Haaland is expected to return to Manchester City's starting line-up for Saturday's Premier League match against Aston Villa at Villa Park.
City were in Champions League action against AEK Athens on Wednesday, a match which gave manager Enzo Maresca the opportunity to rest a number of his usual starters. Haaland, who was spotted limping heavily after the win over Ipswich last weekend, and Marc Guehi were both handed a rest, while several other regular members of the squad were left out due to injury.
Late fitness tests for midfield trio
Nico O'Reilly, Matheus Nunes and Mateo Kovacic all played no part as they recover from knocks picked up in quick succession against Ipswich. Speaking at his press conference on Thursday to preview the Villa match, Maresca said that 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 line-up and selection decisions
Josko Gvardiol started against AEK Athens in O'Reilly's absence and should keep his place at left-back, with Maresca playing down the knock the Croat appeared to pick up late on 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.
There are decisions to be made in the front four, though. Maresca has confirmed that Haaland is fit to start and he will surely do so. Behind him, Phil Foden may well 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. He 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.
Match details
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 kicks off at 12.30pm BST on Saturday October 24, 2026 at Villa Park, and will be broadcast on TNT Sports.
