Man City injury news: Fresh Nico O’Reilly, Jeremy Doku update from Enzo Maresca before Manchester derby

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has provided a fresh update on the fitness of Nico O'Reilly and Jeremy Doku ahead of Sunday’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford.

O'Reilly missed the Citizens’ 1-0 Premier League win over Coventry last weekend after picking up a minor back injury during the warm-up, forcing him to pull out of the starting lineup ahead of kickoff.

The 21-year-old left-back/midfielder subsequently missed City’s 2-0 victory away against Porto in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Doku, meanwhile, has missed each of Man City’s last four matches in all competitions since aggravating a calf injury in the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal last month.

Earlier this week, Maresca stated that O’Reilly would “probably” be fit to return for Sunday’s showdown with Manchester United, while he also refused to rule out Doku making a comeback.

O’Reilly available, Doku ruled out of Manchester derby

The Italian has since confirmed that O'Reilly is fit and available for selection, but Doku will not recover in time to feature against the Red Devils.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Maresca said: “Nico is 100% available. Jeremy, I think he needs some more days.”

In the absence of Doku, Deadline Day signing Iliman Ndiaye could feature in his first Manchester derby from the start on the left flank, unless Maresca decides to move Antoine Semenyo over from the right.

The return of O’Reilly, meanwhile, could see the academy graduate handed a start either at left-back at the expense of Josko Gvardiol or in midfield, though Enzo Fernandez, Elliot Anderson, Ayyoub Bouaddi and Mateo Kovacic are also central options at Maresca’s disposal.

Club-record signing Fernandez has settled in quickly since his £125m transfer from Chelsea, and Maresca believes that the midfielder is already having a huge influence on his new Man City teammates.

Maresca’s talks up importance of Fernandez’s winning mentality

Fernandez was handed his full Man City debut against Coventry - replacing the injured O’Reilly in the first XI - before providing an assist for Erling Haaland in the win at Porto.

Asked if Fernandez’s winning mentality was a key reason for City signing him, Maresca said: “Absolutely, and you can see how the teammates speak on him in terms of a winner mentality.

“I always say the same that players who already won know how to win and it’s important they are in our squad.

“But also it’s about working hard every day, he’s polite, he’s working good, it’s what we need.”

Elsewhere, Man City have no other fitness or injury concerns; Matheus Nunes started his first match of the season against Porto in midweek after recovering from a ankle issue, and he is set to battle with Abdukodir Khusanov for a start at right-back on Sunday.

The Citizens are looking to preserve their 100% record in the Premier League when they travel to Man United, who drew 2-2 with Everton last weekend before thrashing Sabah 4-0 in the Champions League on Thursday.