Man City XI vs Newcastle: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup, injury latest for Carabao Cup

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·3. Februar 2026

Man City XI vs Newcastle: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup, injury latest for Carabao Cup

Injuries have plagued Pep Guardiola’s side recently, but the Spaniard still has a few key calls to make

Rayan Cherki is a slight injury doubt as Manchester City prepare to face Newcastle in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.

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The French playmaker netted his ninth goal for City in all competitions during Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Tottenham, but was forced off in the second half after receiving treatment following a heavy knock.

There’s a chance Cherki is passed fit in time for Wednesday evening’s home clash with the Magpies, but Pep Guardiola - despite a raft of other fitness issues - has other options at his disposal if he decides to protect the 22-year-old, who has already missed just over a month of his debut campaign in England through injury.

Chief among those alternatives is Phil Foden, whose drop in output since December has been followed by benchings in each of City’s last three matches in all competitions.

Phil Foden has been restricted to substitute duty in three successive matches

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The England international is perhaps the most like-for-like Cherki replacement available to Guardiola with his ability to play as a central playmaking No10 and would allow City to seamlessly continue in the 4-2-3-1 shape they have played in for much of the campaign, including their 2-0 away win in this semi-final’s first leg last month.

Omar Marmoush, who was away at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) during the first leg, is back now and could return to the fold in several ways.

He is capable of standing in for Erling Haaland up front, although City’s main man is surely still the favourite to lead the line here, as well as playing more of a supporting striker role. But the Egyptian’s ability to play off the left flank could be of particular use to Guardiola in the continued absence of Jeremy Doku, who is expected to miss out again with a lower leg injury.

This match will almost certainly come too soon for fellow winger Savinho to be recalled, though Antoine Semenyo should keep his place in the XI regardless of other options’ availability.

The January signing has hit the ground running, scoring four times in five games since completing his big-money switch from Bournemouth including one against Spurs last weekend and another to break the deadlock in the reverse tie against Newcastle. His most natural position is as a right-sided wide man, though Semenyo did appear to play alongside Haaland in a front two last Sunday, presenting Guardiola with another possible formation.

Antoine Semenyo has hit the ground running since signing for Man City

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Bernardo Silva played alongside Cherki behind those two last time out and has most commonly featured as a central midfielder this term, but this could be an opportunity for Guardiola to rest his 31-year-old skipper following a breathless winter run of fixtures. That’s because Rodri is available for selection again, with Nico O’Reilly, Nico Gonzalez and Tijjani Reijnders also options in the middle of the park.

It is in the backline that Guardiola faces the most significant injury crisis. Ruben Dias is understood to have returned to first-team training this week, having missed time with a thigh injury but may not be ready for this one, while John Stones is thought to be a few weeks behind the Portuguese in recovering from his own thigh issue and Josko Gvardiol will remain out for longer with a lower leg fracture.

Unfortunately for City, new arrival Marc Guehi was not registered in time for the semi-final first leg and is therefore unavailable for this second leg, too. That means the left-footed Nathan Ake could fill in alongside right-sided centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov, unless youngster Max Alleyne is given the nod again as he was at St James’ Park.

City will be without new centre-back Marc Guehi on Wednesday due to competition rules

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Rayan Ait-Nouri has resumed his left-back role recently, allowing able deputy O’Reilly to return to midfield, while Matheus Nunes has been Guardiola’s preferred right-back all season long, with Rico Lewis firmly a back-up.

Between the posts, James Trafford is expected to keep his place for this cup tie ahead of usual No1 Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Man City predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Ake, Ait-Nouri; Rodri; O’Reilly, Semenyo, Foden, Marmoush; Haaland

Injured: Gvardiol, Dias, Stones, Kovacic, Doku, Savinho

Doubts: Cherki

Unavailable: Guehi

Time and date: 8pm on Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Venue: Etihad Stadium

How to watch: Sky Sports