Manchester City will be forced to make at least two changes for Wednesday’s European Super Cup, from the team that played against Burnley last week.
Kevin De Bruyne went off in the first half of that encounter and Pep Guardiola confirmed ahead of the clash with Sevilla in Greece that the midfielder could be out for three to four months with the issue, and may even require surgery.
It means the Belgian certainly won’t be involved in Wednesday’s meeting between the Champions League and Europa League winners, while Bernardo Silva also wasn’t named in the 22-man travelling squad due to illness.
Ruben Dias remains out for the midweek clash against Sevilla due to concussion protocol, with Joao Cancelo the final absentee for City. The full-back is expected to leave City this transfer window and wasn’t named in the squads for the Burnley clash or the Community Shield loss to Arsenal.
But in better news, John Stones is back for the European champions after he sat out the Burnley victory with a minor knock.
Even at this early stage of the campaign, Guardiola will already be thinking about rotation, and Wednesday will be the Blues’ third competitive match of the season, while it’s just four days until City are back in action and face Newcastle United at the Etihad.
With that in mind, here’s the starting XI we expected Guardiola to select for Wednesday's Super Cup…
1. GK: Stefan Ortega
Has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich this week but started the Community Shield and might be selected again in Athens.
2. RB: Kyle Walker
Has started both matches so far this season and is expected to do so again on Wednesday.
3. CB: Manuel Akanji
Stones is back, but he could be saved for this weekend’s game against Newcastle, with Akanji starting instead.
4. CB: Josko Gvardiol
It seems like the ideal match for the summer signing to be handed his City debut.