Man City XI vs Sunderland: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for Premier League

Enzo Maresca hoping for major injury boost

Manchester City will be hoping to have Jeremy Doku back when they welcome Sunderland to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Enzo Maresca’s side have been without the Belgian all season since he suffered a calf problem during the Community Shield defeat by Arsenal last month.

Since then, Antoine Semenyo and Phil Foden have been the Italian’s go-to wide men, while Brazilian Allan was signed from Palmeiras to replace the departed Savio, who joined Tottenham.

In the Carabao Cup against Norwich, where City ran out 5-0 victors, Allan made his long-anticipated debut, scoring the third goal at the Etihad Stadium.

There was also a brace for young striker Floyd Samba, who stepped in for Erling Haaland, but it is unlikely that that selection will translate over into the Premier League, with the Norwegian star handed a complete rest by Maresca.

Two-goal hero: Floyd Samba

AFP/Getty

Another wonderkid, Ryan McAidoo, also found the net against the Canaries, having replaced Rayan Cherki at half time.

Maresca rotated heavily from the 1-0 Manchester derby victory last weekend, with his entire defensive quintet switched out.

Geronimo Rulli made his debut in net, but Gianluigi Donnarumma will be reinstated between the sticks here.

Vitor Reis also made his first appearance for the club since returning from his loan at sister club Girona, starting alongside Abdukodir Khusanov, while Rico Lewis was given a run-out at right-back.

It remains to be seen as to whether Maresca will revert to type and opt to field Matheus Nunes at full-back once more, as he looks to keep Sunderland’s Deadline Day arrival Malick Fofana quiet down the Black Cats’ left.

Nico O’Reilly also made his first start since pulling out of the starting lineup against Coventry with a back problem picked up in the warm-up.

Returner: Nico O’Reilly

An assist against Norwich could well be enough to see him kept for the league, although Josko Gvardiol starred at Old Trafford, leaving Maresca with a decision to make.

In the engine room, Mateo Kovacic and new boy Ayyoub Bouaddi were both afforded 90 minutes, while Cherki, the only survivor from the derby win, was sacrificed at the interval.

You would expect Enzo Fernandez and Elliot Anderson to return in the pivot with Cherki ahead of them, while Rayan Ait-Nouri and Allan are likely to be switched out, with Semenyo coming back in.

There is a question mark over who replaces Foden, however, with the England international suspended after his controversial red card against Manchester United.

Iliman Ndiaye did not feature at all in midweek, and could be handed his first start in his new colours, while Doku, Allan, Ait-Nouri and McAidoo will all be hoping for the nod.