Man City vs Fulham injury & team news: Five doubts and two ruled out of Premier League clash

Manchester City will have Phil Foden available for Saturday’s Premier League clash against Fulham, while Manuel Akanji should also be fit.

The latter missed last weekend’s win over Sheffield United with a minor knock, while Foden was forced to start on the bench due to illness. Yet interim boss Juanma Lillo implied both will be back for the clash with Fulham, as the champions aim to make it four wins from four, having already dispatched Burnley, Newcastle United and Sheffield United this seasin.

"Right now, Phil is completely recovered from his illness,” the assistant manager revealed. “Manu’s problem was more for prevention, it wasn’t anything serious."

There was also good news on John Stones, who was previously expected to miss out altogether due to a recent injury. But Lillo described the ex-Everton man as 'more or less there'.

However, the 57-year-old is uncertain whether deadline-day signing Matheus Nunes will be available to make his debut against the Cottagers. “I know that he’s going to be a City player, but if he’s going to be available, I still don't know. I don’t have that information," said Lillo. “He still won’t be training.”

The clash against Marco Silva’s side will be the last match before September’s international break, and it will also be Lillo’s final game in charge before Pep Guardiola returns. The City boss is continuing to recuperate in Barcelona following surgery on his back last week.

In the meantime, the only confirmed absence for City is Kevin De Bruyne, who is missing with a hamstring problem.

As for the opposition, Fulham have an almost fully-fit squad for their trip to Manchester. Willian and Sasa Lukic are suffering from minor knocks and were forced to sit out the midweek Carabao Cup win over Tottenham Hotspur.

"Willian is getting better,” Fulham boss Marco Silva revealed on Froday. “Sasa Lukic is going to be out again. He wasn't involved in the last game against Tottenham, he's going to miss City – let's see if after the international break he is going to be back again."

“Tom Cairney’s a doubt for the match, too," he continued. "He came out [of the Spurs game] with a knee injury, let's see how he’s going to be, it doesn't look really serious but we have to assess him tomorrow.

“And we have to assess all the other players that played – some knocks, nothing really serious, but we have to assess them tomorrow to take decisions.”

However, Silva will be able to call upon Calvin Bassey, despite the defender being sent off in last Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal. He served his one-match ban in the midweek Carabao Cup tie at home to Tottenham, a game the Cottagers won on penalties.

Fulham named a strong side for the second-round encounter, but are expected to recall Bernd Leno, Andreas Pereira and Raul Jimenez at the Etihad. Tim Ream, who has also been sent off in the league this season, is available again, while recent signing Timothy Castagne could be an option for the London club.

Doubts: Stones, Akanji, Nunes (City); Cairney, Willian (Fulham). Ruled out: De Bruyne (City); Lukic (Fulham).