Bristol City vs Man City team news - five doubts and five ruled out for FA Cup fifth-round tie

Pep Guardiola has three fitness doubts ahead of Manchester City’s FA Cup tie.
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Pep Guardiola could head to Ashton Gate with a fully fit Manchester City squad for Tuesday’s FA Cup fifth-round tie.

The Premier League champions take on Bristol City, an opponent Guardiola is expecting to offer a real challenge. "My experience in this country, when you go away in the FA Cup against a Championship team is always tough. At home it would be different but away is always tough,” said the City boss in his pre-match press conference.

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“Last 12 games, no defeats. This means they are there,” he added. “My scouts said they are a good team, a manager with experience and did well at Leicester City. It’s a final, FA Cup is an important competition. A serious team will play tomorrow.”

The Catalan also revealed Kevin De Bruyne has still not fully recovered from the illness which prevented him from playing against RB Leipzig and Bournemouth las week. “Still a little illness but he is better,” Guardiola said when asked about his star man, who was an unused substitute at the Vitality on Saturday.

John Stones and Aymeric Laporte are also doubts for the game, with the latter suffering from illness as well, while Stones hasn’t played since January due to a hamstring issue but is closing in on a return to the team. “We are training this afternoon,” was Guardiola’s vague response when asked if the defenders will be back in from the trip to Bristol.

The Robins have a few more injury concerns than the reigning English champions, with Kal Naismith, Rob Atkinson and Ayman Benarous all missing with various problems, while Harry Cornick and Anis Mehmeti are cup-tied.

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Kane Wilson is a doubt with a knee injury but has recently played for the Under-21s. Tommy Conway’s availability is also uncertain. The attacker has been struggling with a hamstring tendon problem for around two months and is not expected to feature despite returning to training.

“They [Man City] are an outstanding team and squad of players, with an elite manager who’s up there with the very best,” said manager Nigel Pearson ahead of the last-16 encounter. “It’s us against them. It’s not about managers, it’s not about me.

“The important thing is, we’ve won two cup ties and gained an exciting tie against a top side. It helps us as a football club, the chance of earning some revenue and hopefully it’s an occasion our fans will enjoy.”

Doubts: Wilson, Conway (Bristol City) Stones, Laporte, De Bruyne (Man City)

Ruled out: Naismith, Atkinson, Mehmeti, Benarous, Cornick (Bristol City)