Manchester City are set to be without four key players for Saturday's Premier League clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.
Star lynchpin Rodri was sent off for violent conduct in last weekend's 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest, and after serving the first of his three-game domestic suspension on Wednesday in City's 1-0 EFL Cup loss to Newcastle, the Spaniard will also miss the trip to the West Midlands.
Pep Guardiola is also having to cope without injured trio Kevin De Bruyne (hamstring), John Stones (muscle) and Bernardo Silva (leg), but he was able to welcome back Mateo Kovacic – who missed three games with a back muscle issue – for the defeat at Newcastle.
After making eight changes in midweek, Guardiola is expected to recall a number of first-team regulars on Saturday, including goalkeeper Ederson and defensive duo Kyle Walker and Ruben Dias, with Stefan Ortega, Rico Lewis and Sergio Gomez all set to make way.
In the absence of Rodri, Kovacic could be joined in centre-midfield by former Wolves man Matheus Nunes, although Kalvin Phillips will be desperate to follow up his midweek start with another outing from the off in the Premier League this weekend.
Although Julian Alvarez has started in each of Man City's last seven games in all competitions, the Argentine is expected to continue providing support in attack for Erling Haaland – who scored four goals in two games against Wolves last season – while Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden will all battle for a place on the flanks.
Manchester City possible starting lineup: Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Dias, Ake; Kovacic, Nunes; Foden, Alvarez, Doku; Haaland
Oliver Thomas
