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

Two debuts in the offing as suspended Phil Foden misses out

While City are the holders of the trophy, it will be considered the competition with the lowest priority by boss Enzo Maresca, who has made a great start to life at the Etihad Stadium.

Last week, his side made a winning start to their Champions League campaign, while they have been victorious in all four Premier League games so far. They play their next league match on Sunday at home to Sunderland.

With that in mind, Maresca, who made eight changes at this stage of last season’s competition when at Chelsea, is likely to give some non-regulars game-time in the third-round tie.

He will definitely be without Phil Foden, whose three-match suspension begins following his red card in Sunday’s derby win over rivals United. Meanwhile, Jeremy Doku is unlikely to return - he’s been out with a calf strain since last month’s Community Shield.

Summer signing Geronimo Rulli, an Argentine international who joined from Marseille, is likely to make his debut in goal.

In defence, Vitor Reis looks set to make his first start of the season, with Rico Lewis also coming in.

Teenage summer recruit Ayyoub Bouaddi should get more game-time in midfield, alongside Mateo Kovacic, while this looks a great chance for Maresca to hand Brazilian winger Allan his debut.

Rayan Ait-Nouri, who the manager has admitted he sees “more as a winger than a full-back”, could start on the opposite side, although Iliman Ndiaye is another option – the former Everton man is eligible despite having played for his previous club in the last round (the cup-tied rule was amended a while back and now allows a player to represent two clubs in the competition).

With Erling Haaland due a rest, Antoine Semenyo looks the most likely candidate to fill the centre-forward position.

Nico O’Reilly, who played last eight minutes of Sunday’s derby having returned from injury, is also a contender for a spot in defence or midfield, although his workload may well be managed, particularly considering he was away with England at the World Cup for most of the summer.