Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola could welcome back midfielder Rodri to the starting lineup for Saturday's Premier League encounter against Southampton at the Etihad Stadium.
After missing the Manchester derby through injury, the 26-year-old returned to the matchday squad against Copenhagen on Wednesday and watched on from the substitutes' bench as they cruised to a 5-0 Champions League victory.
Rodri is therefore expected to return to the first XI this weekend, with either Ilkay Gundogan or Bernardo Silva potentially the unfortunate one to drop to the bench on this occasion.
City will be without England trio John Stones (hamstring), Kalvin Phillips (shoulder) and Kyle Walker (groin), the latter of whom underwent successful surgery this week but has emerged as a major doubt for the World Cup.
Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden were both rested against Copenhagen, but the duo are set to return to the starting lineup on Saturday, with the former looking to break at Premier League assist record and the latter hoping to follow up his hat-trick against Manchester United with another fine display in front of goal.
Another hat-trick hero in the Manchester derby was goal machine Erling Braut Haaland, who bagged two more goals against Copenhagen before coming off at half time. The Norwegian is expected to lead the line again against Southampton, while Jack Grealish – who was named Man of the Match in midweek – could complete the front three.
Guardiola will ponder which two of his four available centre-backs will start against the Saints – Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte played the full 90 minutes in midweek, while Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake started in the win over Man United. Guardiola appears to favour selecting a left-footed centre-back to provide balance at the heart of the defence, so either Laporte or Ake is set to start alongside either Dias or Akanji this weekend.
Joao Cancelo is expected to continue at right-back in the absence of Walker, while Sergio Gomez – who impressed in the win over Copenhagen – is likely to retain his place at left-back.
Manchester City possible starting lineup: Ederson; Cancelo, Dias, Ake, Gomez; De Bruyne, Rodri, Bernardo; Foden, Haaland, Grealish
Oliver Thomas
