Man City v Brighton injury and team news: Three doubts & four out of Premier League clash

Pep Guardiola will welcome Rodri back for Manchester City’s Premier League encounter against Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend.

The midfielder has missed the last three domestic matches through suspension, with City losing to Wolverhampton Wanderers, Newcastle United and Arsenal in his absence. Rodri’s lack of availability was keenly felt across that triple header and the champions are a significantly weaker prospect when the ex-Villarreal is missing.

But Rodri’s return means Kevin De Bruyne is the only absentee in the City squad, with the Belgian expected to be out until the new year due to a long-term hamstring injury. John Stones, who hasn’t started a Premier League game this season, played 63 minutes for England in the win over Italy on Tuesday night and should be available for selection at the Etihad on Saturday.

As for Brighton, they have significantly more injury problems heading into Saturday’s encounter. The Seagulls will be without Pervis Estupinan, Jakub Moder and Julio Enciso, with the latter’s goal against City in May voted goal of the season.

Elsewhere, Tariq Lamptey pulled out of the Ghana squad over the international break due to a knock, while Kaoru Mitoma also returned early from Japan duty due to illness. Roberto De Zerbi is expected to give an update on both ahead of Saturday’s clash.

James Milner is the only other doubt heading into the weekend, and the ex-City man has not played in over a month due to a muscular issue.

Doubt: Lamptey, Milner, Mitoma (Brighton) Out: De Bruyne (City). Estupinan, Moder, Enciso (Brighton).