FA Cup
Mar 1, 2025 5.45pm
3
1
HT : 1 1
FT Etihad Stadium
  • Nico O'Reilly 45'+1' goal
  • Nico O'Reilly 76' goal
  • Kevin De Bruyne 90' goal
  • goal Maksym Talovierov 38'

 Plymouth lineup vs. Man City: Predicted XI for FA Cup fifth-round tie

Striker conundrum after Tijani blow: Predicted Plymouth lineup vs. Man City

Plymouth Argyle have suffered an injury blow ahead of Saturday's FA Cup fifth-round clash with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

Muhamed Tijani, on loan from Slavia Prague, scored his first goal for the Pilgrims in last weekend's 1-1 draw with Cardiff City in the Championship, but he is now facing a couple of weeks on the sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Plymouth's FA Cup fourth-round hero Ryan Hardie, who scored in the 1-0 triumph over Liverpool, is also ruled out with a back problem, joining Brendan Galloway (hip) and Joe Edwards (hamstring) in the treatment room.

The absences of Tijani and Hardie leaves Miron Muslic with only one natural centre-forward in his first-team squad, Burnley loanee Michael Obafemi, but the Austrian is set to continue with winger Mustapha Bundu as his makeshift striker on Saturday.

Rami Al Hajj and Callum Wright could provide support in the final third from advanced midfield positions, while former Man City youngster Darko Gyabi could be recalled to start alongside Adam Randell in the middle of the pitch.

Muslic is set to stick with a three-man backline, with Maksym Talovierov, Nikola Katic and Julio Pleguezuelo the most likely trio to begin as centre-backs as Matthew Sorinola and Tymoteusz Puchacz operate as wing-backs, while Conor Hazard should once again get the nod between the sticks.

Plymouth Argyle possible starting lineup: Hazard; Talovierov, Katic, Pleguezuelo; Sorinola, Randell, Gyabi, Puchacz; Wright, Al Hajj; Bundu

> Click here to see how Manchester City could line up for this contest

POLL
Who will win Saturday's FA Cup clash between Man City and Plymouth?
Manchester City 77%
Draw 6%
Plymouth Argyle 17%
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