Manchester City will be without four first-team players due to injury for Saturday's Premier League clash against West Ham United at the London Stadium.
England duo John Stones and Jack Grealish were not involved with the Three Lions during the international break due to respective muscle and knee injuries, and manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that they will not recover in time to feature this weekend.
Mateo Kovacic has also been ruled out after he watched on as an unused substitute for both of Croatia's Euro 2024 qualifiers due to a muscle issue in his back. The midfielder allegedly needs to undergo an MRI scan to assess the severity of the injury and could be sidelined for at least 10 days.
Kevin De Bruyne remains a long-term absentee as he continues his recovery from hamstring surgery, while both Nathan Ake and Erling Haaland managed to shake off knocks picked up during the international break and will be available for play at the London Stadium.
Guardiola himself is fit to return to the dugout after three weeks recuperating from a back operation, and the Man City boss is set to name a similar side to the one that thrashed Fulham 5-1 at the Etihad Stadium in their final game before the international break.
Right-back Kyle Walker - who signed a new two-year contract extension on Thursday - could be joined in defence by centre-backs Ruben Dias and Manuel Akanji, while Ake and Josko Gvardiol are set to battle for a place at left-back.
The absence of Kovacic could see fellow summer signing Matheus Nunes handed his full debut in midfield alongside Rodri, and Kalvin Phillips also remains an option, while Bernardo Silva, Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden will all be pushing for a start on the flanks either side of forwards Julian Alvarez and Haaland.
Manchester City possible starting lineup: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol; Rodri, Nunes; Bernardo, Alvarez, Foden; Haaland
Oliver Thomas
