Phil Foden has not been named in Manchester City's matchday squad for tonight's Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest at the Etihad Stadium.
Last season's PL Player of the Season has endured a difficult start to the current campaign and has failed to score in any of his 10 appearances in the division.
The Englishman was expected to be involved against Forest this evening, but he is absent from Pep Guardiola's squad due to bronchitis.
Guardiola, who is hoping to see his side end their miserable seven-game winless run in all competitions, has made a total of four changes to the team that lost 2-0 to league leaders Liverpool on Sunday, with Foden, Kyle Walker, Matheus Nunes and Rico Lewis all making way.
Stefan Ortega is once again prefered in goal ahead of first-choice shot stopper Ederson, while Josko Gvardiol returns to the first XI and will join Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji in a four-man defence, the latter of whom is set to start at right-back.
Kevin De Bruyne is handed his first start since September 18, and the Citizens captain is set to play in a deeper midfield role alongside Ilkay Gundogan.
Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish are also recalled and the latter could operate in a central role in the absence of Foden, with Doku and Savinho on the flanks as Erling Haaland continues to lead the line.
© Imago
Nuno makes three changes to Forest XI
As for Nottingham Forest, Nuno Espirito Santo has made a total of three changes to the side that beat Ipswich Town 1-0 at the City Ground last weekend.
Alex Moreno is recalled to start at left-back at the expense of Neco Williams, and the Spaniard will join Ola Aina, Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo in the back four, protecting goalkeeper Matz Sels.
Elliot Anderson is replaced by Nicolas Dominguez and he will link arms with captain Ryan Yates in centre-midfield.
Former Manchester United winger Anthony Elanga also returns to the first XI, taking the place of Callum Hudson-Odoi, and will line up alongside Morgan Gibbs-White, Jota Silva and top scorer Chris Wood in attack.
Manchester City starting lineup: Ortega; Akanji, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol; Gundogan, De Bruyne; Bernardo, Grealish, Doku; Haaland
Subs: Ederson, Carson, Walker, Savinho, Nunes, Wright, O'Reilly, Lewis, McAtee
Nottingham Forest starting lineup: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Moreno; Yates, Dominguez; J. Silva, Gibbs-White, Elanga; Wood
Subs: Miguel, Awoniyi, Williams, Anderson, Hudson-Odoi, Morato, Sosa, Moreira, Ward-Prowse
Oliver Thomas
