Man City vs Chelsea team news - seven ruled out, three doubts & one key player returning

Manchester City will be without two key players for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup fixture against Chelsea.

Graham Potter’s side travel to the Etihad with a plethora of absentees, but won’t have to contend with the creativity of Joao Cancelo in midweek after the defender was sent off in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Fulham, with his one-game ban applying to the Carabao Cup.

Kyle Walker is the only other player who will definitely miss out for City, although there are concerns surrounding the fitness of Erling Haaland. Pep Guardiola said in his press conference that Haaland’s recovery has not been ‘perfect’ from a recent foot injury, and the Catalan revealed there is still some damage to the ligaments.

With a Premier League clash against Brentford coming up on Saturday, Guardiola may opt to rest the prolific Norwegian for the visit of Chelsea. Yet there’s better news on Kalvin Phillips, who will be in the squad for the first time since mid-September following his recuperation from shoulder surgery.

As for Chelsea, they’ll be without long-term injuries Wesley Fofana, N’Golo Kante and Reece James, although Potter confirmed the latter is running again following a knee injury. Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is also a doubt and has missed the last two matches. “Kepa is still unavailable,” Potter confirmed on Tuesday.

“We’ll see about the World Cup. He’s got to take it day by day. It’s a tear in the plantar fascia, so it depends on how he responds, how he responds to pain, how comfortable he feels, but at the moment it’s not so positive.”

“Jorginho has a slight problem with his foot, so he’s doubtful for tomorrow,” Potter added. “Apart from that we’re with pretty much the same group that we had [against Arsenal].

The former Brighton & Hove Albion boss also gave an update on Mateo Kovacic, who hasn’t started either of the last two for Chelsea. “He’s just had an ongoing knee issue that’s a little bit of discomfort, but it hasn’t stopped him completely,” explained Potter.

“Certainly we’ve had to be conscious of that fact during this period. It’s not a massive problem for him, he’ll be fine for the World Cup, it’s fine.”

Ruled out: Walker, Cancelo (City); Arrizabalaga, Fofana, James, Chilwell, Kante (Chelsea)

Doubts: Haaland (City); Jorginho, Kovacic (Chelsea)

Returning: Phillips (City)