Why Nico O’Reilly has missed Manchester City matchday squad against Nottingham Forest | OneFootball

Manchester City star Nico O’Reilly is missing from the matchday squad against Nottingham Forest at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.

The 20-year-old has been in sensational form for his boyhood club in recent months as Manchester City contest for an unprecedented quadruple in the business period of the campaign.

O’Reilly started the season at left-back but the form shown by summer signing Rayan Ait-Nouri in the position since his return from the Africa Cup of Nations has allowed the Manchester City academy graduate to move into midfield since February.

Pep Guardiola has extolled the virtues of O’Reilly and hailed the youngster’s displays in the middle of the park for City, who remain at a nascent stage of their transition under director of football Hugo Viana.

However, the Blues were handed a blow in their 1-0 win over Leeds United at Elland Road last week as O’Reilly came off after 70 minutes with an ankle injury that raised doubts over his chances of featuring against Nottingham Forest.

Guardiola stated in his press conference on Tuesday afternoon that a decision on O’Reilly’s availability – and that of Erling Haaland – would be taken after the first-team training session on the day.

Ahead of Wednesday’s 19:30 UK kick-off at the Etihad Stadium, it has been confirmed that O’Reilly has missed the matchday squad for City against Forest.

However, Haaland has handed the Blues a significant boost by returning to the starting XI, as has Phil Foden, who will be desperate to use this start in a bid to rediscover form after a slow few months of form.

Manchester City’s official channels have cited O’Reilly’s knock from Elland Road to explain the England international’s absence against Forest, with Guardiola undoubtedly keeping a close eye on this weekend’s FA Cup fifth round tie against Newcastle United at St. James’ Park.

The Blues are embarking upon a testing run of fixtures on four fronts and Guardiola has decent squad depth at disposal to hand his best players additional time off to rest and fully recuperate from minor injuries between now and the end of the season.

City cannot afford anything less than three points against Vitor Pereira and co on Wednesday night as they look to maintain the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal, who are kicking off against Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium at the same time as City against Forest.

Guardiola is expected to issue a fitness update on O’Reilly after the game and the Catalan will be desperate to recall one of Manchester City’s best players of the season to the lineup sooner rather than later.