Evening Standard
·18 October 2024
Evening Standard
·18 October 2024
Pep Guardiola provides update ahead of trip to Molineux
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed Kevin De Bruyne will not feature in the Premier League against Wolves on Sunday.
De Bruyne has been sidelined since picking up a groin injury during Man City’s goalless Champions League draw with Inter Milan last month, while Nathan Ake has been out with a hamstring problem.
De Bruyne sat out Belgium’s recent Nations League fixtures against Italy and France, but could be fit for City’s game at Molineux.
Returns? Kevin De Bruyne and Nathan Ake could both play for Manchester City against Wolves
Getty Images
De Bruyne, 33, has also asked not be considered for Belgium’s games against Italy and Israel next month as he tries to manage his workload ahead of the Club World Cup next summer.
Ake hasn’t played for City since the end of August after suffering a hamstring injury on international duty with the Netherlands.
Midfielder Rodri has been ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing knee surgery, while Oscar Bobb isn’t expected back until December after suffering a leg fracture.
Mateo Kovacic has helped City fill the Rodri void in recent weeks, with the Croatian even scoring two goals in their 3-2 win over Fulham last time out.
Guardiola has admitted that Ilkay Gundogan needs time to recapture his best form since rejoining City from Barcelona, but has faith in the 33-year-old.
Foden has been used sparingly so far this season after helping England reach the final of Euro 2024, but he scored his first goal in the 4-0 win over Slovan Bratislava and made his first Premier League start against Fulham.
Jack Grealish missed England’s 2-1 defeat to Greece through injury but returned with a goal in their 3-1 win over Finland.
Erling Haaland - who has 11 goals in 10 games so far this term for City - played the duration of Norway’s games against Slovenia and Austria.
Predicted Manchester City XI (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Gundogan; Silva, Foden, Grealish; Haaland
Sunday 2pm BST, Sky Sports
Venue: Molineux
Doubts: Ake (hamstring)
Injured: Rodri (knee), Bobb (leg), De Bruyne (groin)