Pep Guardiola believes the best way for Erling Haaland to reach his best at Manchester City is to play as often as possible to form connections with his teammates, so he's bound to keep his place against Newcastle United.
City will be looking to keep their 100 per cent record intact when they travel up north for Sunday's game after already picking up comfortable victories over West Ham and Bournemouth. With games only coming at a pace of one per week at the moment, Guardiola hasn't been forced to rotate his side much to keep everybody fit.
The reintroduction of five substitutions certainly helps in that regard and, as a result, it may be an unchanged side that takes to the field at St. James' Park. That would see Haaland continue to lead the line. The striker has had a great start to life at City with two goals and an assist in his two matches, but he isn't quite firing on all cylinders just yet as the team continues to get used to playing with a focal point again.
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The obvious example came eight minutes in against Bournemouth when Haaland was open for a tap-in in the six-yard box but Phil Foden opted to shoot instead, much to the Norwegian's disbelief.
"We are delighted with Erling," Guardiola said ahead of the game. "The little details still we miss but not just with him, with everything. It's just a question of time. I don't have any doubts, it's just a question of time like all the new players. The connections, the chemistry on the pitch, the right moments, the right tempo with the players. This is a question of games, games and games."
With that in mind, Haaland, Foden and Riyad Mahrez could all remain upfront to continue to build their understanding. Elsewhere, there is no reason to make any changes. Bernardo Silva may be itching to start and Kalvin Phillips is available again but Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan have all been excellent so far.
Joao Cancelo, Kyle Walker and Ruben Dias' places at the back are all secure but Nathan Ake has also done nothing to warrant being dropped to the bench so John Stones will have to continue to wait for his first start. New signing Sergio Gomez will be hoping to make his debut off the bench.
Predicted Man City starting XI vs Newcastle: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Ake, Cancelo; De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan; Mahrez, Haaland, Foden.
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