Manchester City could welcome back two players for Friday night’s FA Cup encounter against Tottenham Hotspur.
Both sides have enjoyed a two-week break, with City last in action on 13 January when they came from a goal down to beat Newcastle United in the Premier League. The FA Cup holders returned from a warm-weather in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, with John Stones and Erling Haaland both seen in training during their mid-season hiatus.
The latter hasn’t played since 6 December and is being eased back into competitive action, while Stones is recuperating from an injury he sustained in last month’s win at Everton. Neither are expected to start at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, nor is Manuel Akanji who is also injured.
Pep Guardiola has remarkably lost on all five occasions he has visited Spurs’ new ground and will hope to end that run on Friday in the fourth-round encounter. The City boss has been buoyed by the return of Kevin De Bruyne over the last two games and, with several weeks’ of training under his belt, might be handed a first start on Friday.
The Belgian came off the bench to provide a goal and assist to transform the game against Newcastle and has looked excellent since his reintegration into the team. But one midfielder who won’t be involved is Kalvin Phillips ,as he moves closer to a loan move to West Ham United.
With a two-week break and a relatively kind fixture in midweek against Burnley, City are expected to name a strong XI at Tottenham. Here’s how we think they’ll line up for the fourth-round tie…
- GK: Stefan Ortega
Played in the last FA Cup game and is likely to start in place of Ederson on Friday.
- RB: Kyle Walker
Struggled at Newcastle and will hope to perform better against his former side.
- CB: Ruben Dias
Had a tough afternoon when the sides last met in early December.
Should start alongside Dias, especially with City lacking options in defence as Stones and Akanji are unlikely to be fit to start.
- CB: Nathan Ake
Should start alongside Dias, especially with City lacking options in defence as Stones and Akanji are unlikely to be fit to start.
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