Manchester City will be without three senior players for their Champions League last-16 opener with German side RB Leipzig after they were dealt a double selection blow in the build-up.
Already without England defender John Stones due to a hamstring injury, Pep Guardiola confirmed during his pre-match press conference that Aymeric Laporte and Kevin de Bruyne will also be missing due to illness. That means City will be forced into making at least two changes to their starting line-up.
With a place in the quarter-finals at stake, City are among the favourites to reign supreme in Europe this term, but in order to get past their impending hurdle, they will have to do it without three first-team regulars. Dutch international Nathan Ake and Riyad Mahrez are expected to play.
READ MORE: Every word from press conference
Both men were omitted from the starting XI against Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon. However, with no Laporte and De Bruyne to call on, they are the most likely candidates to get the nod for the Premier League champions vs their Bundesliga opponents in the first leg.
Here's an update from the treatment table as City prepare for their midweek assignment;
Aymeric Laporte
Injury: n/a (illness)
Possible return date: February 25 vs Bournemouth
What Guardiola has said: "Another player is going to play. It happens sometimes."
John Stones
Injury: Hamstring
Return date: n/a
What Guardiola has said: "He was not ready, I saw it in the first minutes. Maybe he was tired, I don't know, but he was not ready and that's why, when this happens, you get injured."
Kevin de Bruyne
Injury: n/a (illness)
Possible return date: February 25 vs Bournemouth
What Guardiola has said: "He didn't feel good right after the game with Forest." The City boss added: "Kevin and Laporte are illness. They are not ready. I don't know [if they will recover for the weekend]."
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