Why Kyle Walker missed Wolves v Man City in the Premier League

Kyle Walker was a shock absence from Manchester City’s matchday squad against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.

The defender missed training on Thursday but was not named by Pep Guardiola as a fitness concern in his pre-match press conference, and played for England during the international break.

However, he missed out on City’s trip to the Midlands as he was deemed ‘not fully fit’. In his place, Guardiola selected Rico Lewis in a back four along with John Stones, Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol. Stones’ start in his just his second in the league this season.

Ederson retained his place in the starting XI after travelling to Brazil during the international break, and he’ll be hoping to keep a first clean sheet since the opening day of the season.

In midfield, Guardiola selected Ilkay Gundogan, Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva, with Phil Foden dropping to the bench. City also surprisingly started without Jack Grealish, as Savinho and Jeremy Doku played in the wide areas. Erling Haaland, who has scored more goals against Wolves than any other English side, was selected up front.

On the bench, City again named two goalkeepers, while Nathan Ake returned for the first time since August. Manuel Akanji, Nico O’Reilly, James McAtee and Matheus Nunes also made up City’s substitutes. Kevin De Bruyne continues to remain absent with an injury.

City XI: Ederson, Lewis, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Gundogan, Silva; Savinho, Haaland, Doku. Subs: Ortega, Carson, Ake, Grealish, Akanji, Nunes, Foden, O’Reilly, McAtee.