Man City predicted line-up v Huddersfield: Six changes with Kevin De Bruyne decision - gallery

Pep Guardiola could have a limited squad to choose from when Manchester City host Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup on Sunday.

The Catalan revealed in Friday’s pre-match press conference that he may be without Scott Carson, Kalvin Phillips, Bernardo Silva and Matheus Nunes for the third-round clash, all of whom have struggled with an illness that has swept through the camp this week.

Guardiola also explained that Rodri may not be involved given the sad news that his grandmother recently passed away. “Family issues are the most important thing. Hopefully he can come back for the game but if he needs to stay [he can],” said the City boss.

Elsewhere, John Stones will miss out due to injury while Jeremy Doku and Erling Haaland could be back, although Guardiola admitted there’s a chance the pair don’t return until the second half of January.

But it’s Kevin De Bruyne who could be the big selection on Sunday at the Etihad. A hamstring injury has prevented him from playing any part since the opening weekend of the Premier League season, but he might play some part against Huddersfield having recently recovered from the problem.

“It was a big injury, what is concerned the most is to try and avoid a repeat,” explained Guardiola ahead of the game. “This is what we have to be careful with, with his minutes at first. There is enthusiasm in the first minutes, you have to be careful with that. 

“What Kevin needs, every player with long injures, is accumulate weeks of training and minutes. Weeks and weeks. Setback would be the worst. Kevin, Jeremy, Erling.”

But how will the players returning from injury and the illness outbreak impact the team selection? Here’s how we think City will line up against Huddersfield...