Man City vs Sheffield Utd injury & team news - one doubt and six ruled out for FA Cup semi-final

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Nathan Ake is Manchester City’s biggest injury concern ahead of the clash with Sheffield United.

Manchester City have just one injury concern ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Sheffield United.

Nathan Ake was replaced in the second half of City’s Champions League draw with Bayern Munich on Wednesday with a hamstring problem and will miss the weekend clash as a result. “He's not ready for tomorrow but I don’t know the damage. I think today they make the final test to know exactly what he has,” Guardiola said in his pre-match press conference.

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With Ake set to miss out - which appears likely - Aymeric Laporte could replace him in the starting XI, while Rico Lewis has also played at left-back this season. Phil Foden returned to the squad on Wednesday for the first time since having his appendix removed last month, but was an unused substitute and might not have the required fitness to start on Saturday.

As for the Blades, their biggest selection concern is Anel Ahmedhodzic, who missed last weekend’s win over Cardiff City with his wife preparing to enter labour. The centre-back returned for the midweek game against Bristol City but manager Paul Heckingbottom explained ahead of the Wembley trip that Ahmedhodzic might miss out again.

“Not yet,” Heckingbottom responded when asked if the baby has been born. “So it’ll be the same set up as before. We know what we’re going to do and we’ll have extra bodies down there just in case. It could go on for a few weeks, this, and Anel’s got his head around it, I think. It’s not ideal but it’s part of life, isn’t it?”

If Ahmedhodzic misses out, experienced defender Chris Basham could come into the side. Basham returned to training during the week after missing the last two matches with a back issue. “He declared himself fit in midweek and we would have started him if Anel was pulled away, knowing we’d have made a change if needed,” Heckingbottom explained ahead of the City encounter.

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Sheffield United will also be without Tommy Doyle and James McAtee who are on loan at the club from the Etihad and therefore cup-tied for the semi-final. Both players have been regulars in the team this season and Doyle scored the winning goal in the quarter-final against Blackburn Rovers that saw the Blades progress to the last four.

Jack O’Connell and Rhian Brewster are long-term absentees for Sheffield United, while Enda Stevens remains on the sidelines despite recently returning to training.

Doubts: Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield Utd)

Ruled out: Ake (City); O’Connell, Stevens, Osborne, Doyle, McAtee, Brewster (Sheffield Utd)

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