Erling Haaland is not in Manchester City's matchday squad for this afternoon's Premier League clash with Crystal Palace.
The Norwegian has missed the previous two games with a "bone stress reaction" in his foot, and manager Pep Guardiola stated at his press conference on Friday that he did not expect the striker to play against the Eagles.
Following an assessment on Friday, Haaland has not been deemed fit to feature this afternoon along with winger Jeremy Doku, who has also missed the last two matches with a muscle problem.
Guardiola has made a total of nine changes to the second-string side that beat Red Star Belgrade 3-2 in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Only Rico Lewis and Jack Grealish retain their places from midweek, with the former set to start in midfield alongside the returning Rodri, while the latter continues to operate on the left flank.
First-choice goalkeeper Ederson replaces Stefan Ortega between the sticks, while captain Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake and Josko Gvardiol all return in defence.
Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden will start in advanced midfield roles alongside Grealish, in behind central striker Julian Alvarez, who is tasked with filling in for the absent Haaland.
© Reuters
As for Crystal Palace, Roy Hodgson has made five changes to the side that lost 2-1 to Liverpool last weekend, with Sam Johnstone, Will Hughes, Jefferson Lerma, Odsonne Edouard and Jordan Ayew all missing out, the latter of whom is suspended.
Former Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson has recovered from injury and will make his Premier League debut for Palace between the sticks, while Hodgson has seemingly switched to a back five as Tyrick Mitchell also recovered from injury to join Nathaniel Clyne, Joel Ward, Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen in defence.
Jairo Riedewald is handed a start in centre-midfield alongside Chris Richards, while Michael Olise also returns to the first XI to operate on the right flank as Jeffery Schlupp continues on the left; Jean-Philippe Mateta, meanwhile, starts up front in the absence of Edouard.
Palace have also received a huge boost as star midfielder Eberechi Eze is named on the substitutes' bench after missing the last three Premier League games with an ankle issue.
Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol; Rodri, Lewis; Bernardo, Foden, Grealish; Alvarez
Subs: Ortega, Phillips, Stones, Kovacic, Gomez, Akanji, Nunes, Bobb, Susoho
Crystal Palace: Henderson; Clyne, Ward, Guehi, Andersen, Mitchell; Olise, Riedewald, Richards, Schlupp; Mateta
Subs: Matthews, Tomkins, Ozoh, Adaramola, Ahamada, Eze, Franca, Ebiowei, Ola-Adebomi
Oliver Thomas
