Pep Guardiola is set to have a fully-fit squad at his disposal when Manchester City play host to Vincent Kompany's Burnley at the Etihad Stadium in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.
The Citizens are in high spirits after thrashing RB Leipzig 7-0 on home soil in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday, with star striker Erling Braut Haaland scoring five goals on a record-breaking night for the Norwegian.
Guardiola will contemplate giving City's No.9 a rest on Saturday, which could see Julian Alvarez handed a start down the middle, while Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden – the latter of whom scored a brace in the FA Cup fifth-round win over Bristol City – will be pushing to start on the flanks.
Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva both started in wide areas on Tuesday, but the latter could move back into the midfield three, with either Kevin De Bruyne or Ilkay Gundogan making way as a result, while Kalvin Phillips could be handed a start at the expense of ever-present lynchpin Rodri – Cole Palmer and Maximo Perrone are two more midfield options Guardiola may consider to start.
Ruben Dias and Manuel Akanji have started at centre-back in each of City's last six matches across all competitions, but now that John Stones and Aymeric Laporte have both returned to full fitness, rotation at the back could be on the cards on Saturday.
Stones has played at right-back in the last two fixtures, but should he revert to central defence against Burnley, either Kyle Walker or Rico Lewis will likely begin on the right, while Sergio Gomez will push Nathan Ake for the left-back spot.
Backup goalkeeper Stefan Ortega has started all three FA Cup matches so far this season and the German is expected to replace first-choice shot-stopper Ederson between the sticks.
Manchester City possible starting lineup: Ortega; Lewis, Stones, Laporte, Ake; De Bruyne, Phillips, Bernardo; Mahrez, Alvarez, Foden
Oliver Thomas
