Rayan Cherki is on the bench tonight as Manchester City face Newcastle in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.
The French playmaker netted his ninth goal for City in all competitions during Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Tottenham, but was forced off in the second half after receiving treatment following a heavy knock.
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Cherki has been passed fit for the league cup decider, but Pep Guardiola has opted against risking the attacking midfielder, instead handing a recall to to Phil Foden, whose drop in output since December has been followed by benchings in each of City’s last three matches in all competitions.
Unfortunately for City, new arrival Marc Guehi was not registered in time for the semi-final first leg and is therefore unavailable for this second leg, too. That means the left-footed Nathan Ake fills in alongside right-sided centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov.
Between the posts, James Trafford keeps his place for this cup tie ahead of usual No1 Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Perhaps looking ahead to the weekend’s clash away at Liverpool, Erling Haaland is rested with Omar Marmoush slated to lead the line for Man City.
Confirmed team news
Man City XI: Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Ake, Ait-Nouri; Nico, Reijnders, O'Reilly; Semenyo, Foden, Marmoush.
Substitutes: Donnarumma, Dias, Haaland, Cherki, Rodri, Nypan, McAidoo, Alleyne, Lewis.
