Chelsea v Man City injury news: Nine out & three doubts - including World Cup winner

Manchester City will hope Manuel Akanji is available for Sunday’s Premier League encounter against Chelsea.

The defender was named in the starting line-up to face Young Boys on Tuesday night, but had to be replaced by Kyle Walker after suffering a back spasm in the warm-up, which Pep Guardiola jokingly claimed made him look like he was ‘75 years old’.

But more concerning was the injury suffered by John Stones in the 3-0 Champions League win. The England international was replaced at half-time, with Guardiola revealing after the match that he suffered a recurrence of the hip problem that prevented him from playing in 11 of City’s 12 opening matches this season.

“It is muscular, his injury,” said the City boss . “He will be a while out. It is a pity for him as he is an incredible professional. He tried to do it and it’s a pity. It is bad news for us and for tonight.”

Elsewhere, Sergio Gomez will miss the match with an ankle injury, while Kevin De Bruyne is not expected to play again in 2023 due a long-term hamstring issue. There was good news for City this week, however, with Erling Haaland being passed fit to face Young Boys, despite going off at half-time in last week’s win over Bournemouth with a twisted ankle.

As for Chelsea, they also have several concerns ahead of Sunday’s meeting at Stamford Bridge. The London club will hope Enzo Fernandez is back after the World Cup winner was forced off in Monday’s win over Tottenham Hotspur.

The midfielder was on the receiving end of a strong challenge from international team-mate Cristian Romero, which saw the Spurs defender sent off. But via a social media post on Wednesday, Fernandez said he hopes to be back for the visit of City. “Thank you all for your messages,” he wrote. “I am good, working in my recovery to get to the weekend in the best way.”

The only other doubt ahead of Sunday’s clash is Armando Broja. The striker has been suffered with knee irritation recently and Mauricio Pochettino said ahead of the Spurs match that the 22-year-old could have been named on the bench. He wasn’t passed fit, however, and might be back for the City match.

Meanwhile, summer arrivals Romeo Lavia and Christopher Nkunku are not expected to back until after the November international break, with Wesley Fofana, Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka long-term absentees. Trevoh Chalobah is also likely to miss out due due to a thigh injury

Out: Chalobah, Fofana, Chilwell, Lavia, Chukwuemeka, Nkunku (Chelsea); Stones, Gomez, De Bruyne (City). Doubts: Fernandez, Broja (Chelsea); Akanji (City).