Manchester City Faces Injury Challenges Ahead of West Ham Game
Manchester City is preparing for their match against West Ham with several players unavailable, putting the team’s strength to the test. The team is currently working hard to maintain a strong position in the Premier League.
Team Manager Pep Guardiola is currently dealing with a number of injuries within the squad. Key players like left-winger Jeremy Doku and center-back John Stones are out. Midfielders Rodri and Mateo Kovacic are also still unable to play. Adding to these worries, young player Oscar Bobb will be out for a while due to a hamstring injury he picked up during the week in a game against Brentford.
Furthermore, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush are absent as they are representing their countries, Algeria and Egypt, in the Africa Cup of Nations. Guardiola has confirmed that none of the injured players will be ready for this weekend’s game, leaving the team with fewer options.
Despite these challenges, Manchester City is expected to field a strong team against West Ham. Gianluigi Donnarumma is likely to be back in goal. In defense, Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias are expected to continue playing as the central pair, with Matheus Nunes possibly filling in at right-back. Nico O’Reilly, who has played well at left-back, is also expected to start.
In the midfield, Bernardo Silva and Nico Gonzalez will probably play alongside either Tijjani Reijnders or Rayan Cherki, both of whom have been performing well recently. Phil Foden is also likely to play, after coming off the bench in the game against Brentford, replacing the injured Bobb. With Doku unavailable, Foden is almost certain to be in the starting lineup. Savinho, who made a good impression by scoring in his first start, is also likely to keep his place in the team. Erling Haaland, who rested during the midweek game, is expected to lead the attack.
Here’s a possible lineup for Manchester City:
Goalkeeper: Donnarumma
Defenders: Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly
Midfielders: Silva, Nico
Forwards: Cherki, Foden, Savinho
Striker: Haaland
Players who are injured: Rodri, Doku, Kovacic, Bobb, Stones
Players on international duty: Marmoush, Ait-Nouri
The game is scheduled for 3pm GMT on Saturday, December 20, 2025.
