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How Manchester City could line up against Bournemouth

Ahead of Manchester City's EFL Cup third-round tie with Bournemouth, Sports Mole looks at how Pep Guardiola's side could line up.

Manchester City take on Bournemouth in the third round of the EFL Cup on Thursday, with boss Pep Guardiola vowing to turn to his youngsters.

The Citizens beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 in their opening Premier League fixture on Monday and host Leicester City next weekend.

Guardiola was without seven first-team players for the trip to Wolves, many of whom will not be back for this midweek cup tie at the Etihad Stadium.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how City could line up against Championship side Bournemouth, whom they have beaten in each of their last 10 meetings.



Possible MCI XI vs. BOU

Out: Sergio Aguero (knee), Ilkay Gundogan (coronavirus), Joao Cancelo (ankle), Oleksandr Zinchenko (unknown)
Doubtful: Aymeric Laporte (fitness), Bernardo Silva (quadriceps), Eric Garcia (facial)

> Click here for Man City's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match

Guardiola's rotation between matches could give the likes of Zack Steffen, Tommy Doyle, Adrian Bernabe and highly-rated teenage striker Liam Delap a chance to shine.

The Catalan coach will be cautious about throwing in too many youngsters, though, against a Bournemouth side unbeaten in their first three games of 2020-21.

With Joao Cancelo and Oleksandr Zinchenko out until after the next international break, Guardiola may have no choice but to stick with Benjamin Mendy and Kyle Walker at full-back.

Elsewhere, Aymeric Laporte and Riyad Mahrez have had limited training sessions after testing positive for coronavirus earlier this month, so this could be a good chance to get them involved for the first time this term.

Summer signing Ferran Torres is another who could do with an hour under his belt after coming on as a late substitute at Molineux on Monday.

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola pictured on June 17, 2020
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