16-year-old set for Manchester City debut in Carabao Cup clash v Watford

Pep Guardiola has handed 16-year-old Kaden Braithwaite his senior Manchester City debut in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup third-round tie against Watford.

The defender, who can play at centre-back or left-back, was something of a surprise call-up for the game at the Etihad. Braithwaite has played all four games for the Under-18s this season - keeping three clean sheets - and is the third youngest debutant in City’s history.

The teenager recently captained England’s Under-17s and is expected to partner John Stones in the centre of defence for the visit of Tom Cleverley’s side.

With just over 48 hours between the visits of Arsenal and Watford to the Etihad, Guardiola made nine changes from the weekend, with only Kyle Walker and Jeremy Doku retaining their places.

Stefan Ortega, Matheus Nunes and Phil Foden have been handed their first starts of the season, while Nico O’Reilly and James McAtee return to the XI for the first time since the Community Shield.

Rico Lewis and Jack Grealish have also been handed starting berths, while there is no place for Rodri in the squad, amid reports that he has suffered a serious ACL injury and will miss the remainder of the season as a result.

Kevin De Bruyne is also not in the squad due to injury, as confirmed by Guardiola at the weekend, while Erling Haaland has been granted compassionate leave following the recent death of a family friend.

City starting XI: Ortega, Walker, Stones, Braithwaite, Lewis, O'Reilly, Nunes, McAtee, Doku, Foden, Grealish. Substitutes: Ederson, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol, Wright, Kovacic, Gundogan, Silva, Savinho.