Manchester City face Exeter City next and there is plenty to look forward to in the match | OneFootball

Manchester City have a break from Premier League action this weekend with their FA Cup campaign beginning tomorrow at the Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola’s side will take on League One side Exeter City in the third-round of the competition. The game comes amidst a heavy schedule of important games for City. Tomorrow’s match does feel like an afterthought in a way, given that City play Newcastle United at St. James’ Park in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, and following that match, City take on Manchester United at Old Trafford.

But there is plenty to look forward to in tomorrow’s FA Cup tie against Exeter City and here is what I’m looking forward to seeing at the Etihad Stadium.

A debut awaits for the newest arrival at Manchester City.

Antoine Semenyo completed his move to Manchester City from Bournemouth earlier today. The versatile winger immediately improves Manchester City’s attacking options and Pep Guardiola revealed earlier today that Semenyo will feature against Exeter City. Speaking on the chances of Semenyo playing tomorrow, Guardiola said: “He’ll be selected. I don’t know if he’ll start but he’ll be selected for sure.”

Seeing Antoine Semenyo make his debut for Manchester City will be exciting. Whether that is off the bench or as a starter remains to be seen. Semenyo will be expected to make an impact quickly at City and he will.take his first step as a City player tomorrow.

A host of young players should get an opportunity to impress against Exeter City.

It is expected that Pep Guardiola will rest a host of key players against Exeter City. City are contending with a busy schedule so it would be a major surprise if Guardiola selected a full strength team. A host of Manchester City’s young players should get an opportunity to impress. That is something to look forward to tomorrow.

I’m expecting Divine Mukasa to start at the Etihad tomorrow. Mukasa looks to be the next young player to break into the City first team. When he has played this season, Mukasa has impressed. He should start against Exeter City and how Mukasa plays will be worth keeping an eye on. Mukasa has all of the attributes needed to be a Manchester City player. Hopefully, he can show that in the FA Cup third-round tie.

Abdukodir Khusanov and Max Alleyne are my picks to start in Manchester City’s defence. The pair played well against Brighton, and it would be good to see them play against Exeter City. The League One side will be physical, and I’m interested in seeing how the pair contend with that threat.

Another young player who could play tomorrow is Stephen Mfuni. The young defender is highly rated at Manchester City, and he seems destined to be in the City first-team setup at some point. Perhaps he will get minutes tomorrow, and it will be exciting to see if he does..

Manchester City’s fringes players must take their chance tomorrow.

There are two fringe players who need to impress tomorrow against Exeter City: James Trafford and Rico Lewis. Both players have barely featured this season and should start tomorrow’s FA Cup third-round tie.

Rico Lewis has become the forgotten man in Pep Guardiola’s squad. He hasn’t had many opportunities to play recently. I can see him starting at right-back to give Matheus Nunes a rest. Lewis has to come in, play strongly, and show he can be relied upon for the second half of this season. That is the challenge for Rico Lewis tomorrow.

James Trafford will start in goal and will be eager to put in a strong performance. Trafford will likely start Manchester City’s next two matches, and a good performance tomorrow can set him up to enter Manchester City’s Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg tie against Newcastle United at St. James’ Park full of confidence. How Trafford performs is another point to keep an eye on at the Etihad tomorrow.