The absence of Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku persists as the Blues prepare to face Crvena Zvezda in the upcoming Champions League fixture.
Prior to the team’s departure for their last Group G game, neither player, along with Ederson due to illness, participated in Tuesday morning’s practice at the City Football Academy. Manchester City had already secured the top spot in the group, alleviating the need to field their key players.
Pep Guardiola mentioned that Haaland’s foot condition would undergo weekly evaluation due to a stress-related injury, implying that he might not be fit for upcoming matches against Crystal Palace or the Club World Cup next week. Doku, recovering from a muscle injury, is being cautiously handled to prevent exacerbation.
With the game holding little consequence for either team, 23 players, including some from the academy, trained on Tuesday, indicating the potential for alterations in the lineup.
City’s youthful squad triumphed in the UEFA Youth League group stage. The club has until midnight on Tuesday to finalize the inclusion of under-21 players on their Champions League “B List” for the clash against Red Star. Notable names such as Kane Taylor, Max Alleyne, Mahamadou Susoho, and Micah Hamilton were part of the training session.
Guardiola might opt for adjustments in his lineup, potentially involving Matheus Nunes, Kalvin Phillips, Oscar Bobb, Sergio Gomez, Rico Lewis, Manu Akanji, and John Stones, who were not in the starting lineup against Luton on Sunday.
Kevin De Bruyne remains sidelined alongside Doku and Haaland, and although he was named in the Club World Cup squad, his fitness level may not permit participation. Despite returning to running sessions last week, he has yet to join team training.
The training squad for Manchester City includes: Walker, Lewis, Akanji, Ake, Dias, Alleyne, Gvardiol, Stones, Gomez, Rodri, Taylor, Susoho, Hamilton, Phillips, Kovacic, Nunes, Bernardo, Foden, Grealish, Bobb, and Alvarez. Ortega and Carson will serve as goalkeepers.
