Man City XI vs Aston Villa: Starting lineup, confirmed team news and injury latest for Premier League | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola makes big decision on the make-up of his midfield at Villa Park

Manchester City midfielder Nico Gonzalez is named in the bench against Aston Villa this afternoon.

City have been assessing the fitness of Nico, who was forced off against Villarreal on Tuesday with a foot problem.

“We will see today and tomorrow how he feels,” said Pep Guardiola in the pre-match press conference on Friday.

Nico had been deputising for Rodri who went off early against Brentford before the international break and is not yet ready to return, having missed wins against Everton and Villarreal.

Abdukodir Khusanov remains sidelined with the ankle injury that has seen him miss the last six City matches.

Phil Foden and Tijjanji Reijnders were on the bench in midweek and come back into the side, though Rico Lewis misses out on a start despite impressing in midfield against Villarreal.

In-form Erling Haaland leads the line, having scored 24 goals in 14 matches for club and country this season and finding the net again against Villarreal.

Confirmed team news

Subs: Trafford, Ake, Marmoush, Kovacic, Cherki, Doku, Nico, O'Reilly, Lewis