Manchester City's Carabao Cup third-round tie against Norwich City on Thursday arrives with a familiar early-season headache: a suspension and a fresh injury concern.
Foden Out After Derby Red
Phil Foden will watch from the stands after his red card in the Manchester derby, a dismissal that rules him out of this cup clash. The midfielder's absence leaves a creative void, though City's squad depth has handled worse.
Doku Doubtful Until Weekend
Jeremy Doku remains a doubt with a lower leg problem. The winger is expected to miss out until at least the weekend, unless Enzo Maresca's latest update has shifted the timeline. City's medical staff will assess him closer to kick-off.
Norwich's Rollercoaster Start
Norwich arrive at the Etihad on the back of a 4-3 defeat to Middlesbrough, a result that halted their back-to-back wins. The Canaries sit 12th in the Championship with nine points from seven games — a middling return that suggests they'll relish the underdog tag.
City's Injury List: Mahovo, Topic, Ahmed
City's treatment room remains busy. Mahovo is closing in on a return but remains unavailable for now. Topic is targeting a comeback after the international break, having been out since suffering an ACL rupture last year. Ahmed, meanwhile, is done for the season after rupturing his ACL shortly after the campaign began. Three absences, three different timelines — the medical staff's workload shows no sign of easing.
For City, the priority is simple: navigate a potential banana skin without adding to the casualty list. For Norwich, a trip to the Etihad offers a free hit and a chance to test themselves against elite opposition. Kick-off on Thursday.