Manchester City are set to be without at least two players for Saturday's Premier League clash with Brentford at the Etihad Stadium.
While Oscar Bobb is still recovering from a leg fracture sustained in training last month, Nathan Ake was forced off on a stretcher while on international duty with the Netherlands on Tuesday after picking up what looked like a serious muscle injury.
Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Ake will be sidelined until after the next international break in mid-October, and his absence will likely see Josko Gvardiol continue on the left side of defence. However, with one eye on upcoming fixtures against Inter Milan in the Champions League and Arsenal in the Premier League, Guardiola may look to rotate his side in a few positions, according to Man City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany.
Speaking exclusively to Sports Mole, McInerney said: "I'm tempted to say they'll play a very similar team [against Brentford], but this could be the start of the rotation, because when you got Inter Milan and Arsenal next, you're going to have to make some changes.
"I think Ederson will be in goal, I think [Ruben] Dias and [Manuel] Akanji will probably carry on at centre-back. [Josko] Gvardiol will probably play left-back. He almost certainly has to and I wouldn't be surprised if maybe Inter at home is the one where [Guardiola] makes a change at left-back with no Ake, because he's going to want Gvardiol for Arsenal almost certainly."
McInerney was also asked about whether Rico Lewis could feature at left-back, where he played for England in Tuesday's 2-0 win over Finland, and while he thinks that could be an avenue that Guardiola explores for the clash with Brentford, he still feel that the City boss will be "tempted to play Gvardiol instead".
© Imago
Lewis has been one of Man City's standout performers so far this season playing in a hybrid right-back role and he will hope to keep his place in the starting lineup this weekend, although McInerney thinks that Guardiola may consider giving minutes to Kyle Walker - who is yet to play for the Citizens this season - ahead of the club's busy fixture schedule.
"[Kyle] Walker is going to have to play at some point. At home against Brentford, it would make an awful lot of sense," he added. "The only thing is that [Guardiola has] Rico Lewis. What he brings to this City side... his involvement and his intelligence just makes City so much better."
Man City have been boosted by the return to fitness of Rodri, Savinho and Phil Foden over the international break. The former of whom represented Spain last Sunday and has since taking part in Citizens training this week along with both Savinho and Foden, but McInerney is not convinced that Rodri will start on Saturday.
"Rodri won't start I don't think," said McInerney. "I still feel like he'll be on the bench, just because [Mateo] Kovacic is playing so well. I don't think Guardiola is going to use Rodri's 60 minutes for Spain as enough to start him. I can see him coming on this weekend, but I feel [City's midfield is] going to be Kovacic and Bernardo [Silva] again, and then probably Kevin De Bruyne.
McInerney added: "Savinho is back in training. I wouldn't be surprised if he starts at home (on the right wing)... then on the left - [Jeremy] Doku or [Jack] Grealish, I'm not sure. Grealish of course played centrally for England which was really interesting."
Summer signing Ilkay Gundogan is also in contention to feature, although McInerney "wouldn't be surprised" if the experienced midfielder was handed a start against Inter next week, rather than versus Brentford.
Meanwhile, Guardiola has revealed that Erling Haaland - August's Premier League Player of the Month winner - is a doubt and could be granted compassionate leave as he mourns the loss of close family friend Ivar Eggja. Haaland has trained with City this week since returning from international duty with Norway and a late call is set to be made on his availability.
Manchester City possible starting lineup: Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Bernardo; Savinho, De Bruyne, Doku; Haaland
> Click here to see how Brentford could line up for this contest
Oliver Thomas
