Manchester City have received a timely fitness fillip ahead of Saturday’s Premier League encounter with Brighton, with Matheus Nunes and Iliman Ndiaye both declared available.
Enzo Maresca confirmed the pair are in contention, while also welcoming back five senior players who were rested for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie against the same opposition.
Squad almost at full strength
Erling Haaland, Ruben Dias, Elliot Anderson, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Josko Gvardiol all return after sitting out the midweek cup clash, which City won on penalties following a 2-2 draw.
Maresca made nine changes for that game, and the freshened-up quintet should provide a significant boost as City embark on another three-game week.
“They are all available,” Maresca told the club’s official website. “[Apart from] Antoine Semenyo, the rest are all available.”
Nunes has been working his way back from a muscle problem, while Ndiaye was an unused substitute in midweek.
Semenyo still sidelined
Semenyo remains City’s only absentee as he continues his recovery from the injury sustained against Ipswich earlier this month. Maresca revealed the winger is undergoing treatment but is not yet close to returning.
Brighton return to the Etihad just three days after the cup meeting, and Maresca is expecting another demanding test against a side sitting third in the Premier League.
With the bulk of his squad refreshed and two more options available, the City boss will hope his side can build on Wednesday’s shootout success.