13 Manchester City players at risk of missing Manchester United clash – Napoli and Arsenal looming | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has a long list of injury and fitness headaches to contend with in the build-up to a crucial run of high-profile fixtures in the coming weeks.

Manchester City’s manager faces a congested schedule that includes a local derby clash with Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium, an opening UEFA Champions League showdown against Napoli, and a meeting with title rivals Arsenal.

With September already shaping up to be somewhat season-defining, or going a long way to test the credentials of City in particular, Pep Guardiola’s ability to rotate his squad is severely hampered by a worrying collection of injuries and fitness concerns.

Last season saw Manchester City battle similar availability issues, with Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones, Oscar Bobb, and most notably Rodri all missing long stretches at key moments of the campaign.

That experience may help Pep Guardiola cope with the current situation, but the sheer number of doubts – 13 in total – leaves little margin for error. And with the September international break having now concluded, here is a comprehensive round-up of City’s injury situation.

Marcus Bettinelli: The goalkeeper has been sidelined since the start of the campaign with an unspecified problem. With Gianluigi Donnarumma, James Trafford, and Stefan Ortega all ahead in the pecking order, he is unlikely to feature anytime soon.

Rayan Ait-Nouri: Algeria chose not to call him up this month, prioritising his recovery from a knock picked up against Tottenham. His limited effectiveness in the Brighton defeat suggests he is still short of full fitness.

Josko Gvardiol: The defender has rejoined training with Manchester City but opted out of Croatia’s camp, focusing instead on regaining sharpness after a stop-start few weeks.

Abdukodir Khusanov: Uzbekistan’s FA confirmed he is nursing a calf injury sustained against Brighton. Doctors expect around two weeks of recovery, ruling him out of the CAFA Nations Cup, but possibly opening himself up to availability against Manchester United.

Rico Lewis: The versatile youngster was forced to withdraw from England Under-21 duty with a knock, adding to Pep Guardiola’s defensive and midfield headaches.

John Stones: Left England’s camp early after experiencing muscle tightness. National boss Thomas Tuchel confirmed the decision was precautionary, echoed by Manchester City’s medical staff through an official club statement.

Rayan Cherki: The French playmaker faces up to two months out with a thigh injury picked up in August. Pep Guardiola recently confirmed the timeline, which would rule him out until at least late October.

Phil Foden: Missed the Brighton defeat after being deemed not fully fit, though his absence is expected to be short-term compared to others.

Mateo Kovacic: The Croatian is edging closer to a return after Achilles surgery in June. Social media posts suggest progress, though Pep Guardiola previously said he wouldn’t be back until “September or October.”

Nico O’Reilly: Another England Under-21 withdrawal due to a knock. His setback further depletes midfield options at a crucial stage.

Kalvin Phillips: Recovering from Achilles surgery like Mateo Kovacic, but even when fit, is not expected to feature in Pep Guardiola’s plans.

Savinho: Back on the training pitch during the break and targeting a return to full action once Manchester City’s internationals return to camp.

Omar Marmoush: Limped out of Egypt’s 0-0 draw with Burkina Faso with a knee problem, returning home on crutches. Manchester City have since confirmed that the forward will be sidelined for the contest against Manchester United this weekend, with further assessment to follow.

The timing of these injuries could not be worse, with Manchester City already under pressure to keep pace with rivals in the Premier League and must balance that with European ambitions.

Pep Guardiola’s team selections in the coming weeks may rely heavily on fringe players and youngsters, with academy products potentially asked to step into first-team roles sooner than expected.

While several of these issues are minor and may clear up quickly, uncertainty on fitness updates means City’s medical department is under huge strain. Meetings with Manchester United, Napoli, and Arsenal could all be shaped by who recover, and who remains absent.