How Manchester City could line up against Leicester City

Phil Foden is Manchester City's only absentee ahead of Saturday's Premier League encounter against Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium.

The England international is still recovering from appendicitis surgery but may be in a position to return to first-team action at the end of this month.

Pep Guardiola led his Citizens side to an impressive 3-0 win over Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday, and with one eye on the second leg in Germany next week, the Spaniard may ponder making a few changes to his starting lineup against Leicester.

John Stones has recently occupied a makeshift centre-midfield role alongside Rodri when City have possession, but should Guardiola opt to rotate, Rico Lewis could take his place in the first XI – Kyle Walker is also an option, although his inclusion would force Guardiola to tweak his system slightly after revealing that the 32-year-old "cannot play" in his new setup.

Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake could all continue in defence, but Aymeric Laporte, who has fallen down the pecking order this season, will be hoping to force his way into the starting lineup on Saturday.

Kevin De Bruyne is fit to feature after Guardiola played down fears that he sustained an injury against Bayern, but nevertheless, his minutes will likely be managed on Saturday and it remains to be seen if he will keep his place in the first XI alongside fellow midfielders Rodri and Ilkay Gundogan.

Erling Braut Haaland's minutes are also set to be managed against Leicester, but the Norwegian goal machine – who broke a fresh scoring record in midweek – is expected to continue in attack along with Jack Grealish, while Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and Julian Alvarez will all battle for the final spot in the front three.

Manchester City possible starting lineup: Ederson; Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Ake; De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan; Mahrez, Haaland, Grealish